Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez has reached a milestone of 700 professional appearances across club and country, highlighting a career of remarkable longevity and consistent excellence.
The 34-year-old made his 104th appearance for Al Ahli Saudi FC on Friday against Al Hazem, adding to a career that has spanned clubs including Le Havre AC, Leicester City, and Manchester City.
Mahrez joined Al Ahli in the summer of 2024, a move considered unconventional at the time, yet he has continued to perform at a high level in the Saudi Pro League.
Mahrez’s time in England remains the defining period of his career.
At Leicester City, he played a pivotal role in one of football’s most unlikely triumphs, helping the club secure the Premier League title in 2016.
His success continued at Manchester City, where he collected multiple domestic trophies, cementing his reputation as one of the Premier League’s elite wingers.
Since making his professional debut with Le Havre in 2011, Mahrez has scored 207 goals and provided 178 assists in club football.
Internationally, he has earned 111 caps for Algeria, becoming the team’s top assist provider with 39 assists and the second-highest scorer with 37 goals.
He is also the second most-capped Algerian player behind Aïssa Mandi (115 caps) and captained the national team to victory at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Looking ahead, Mahrez is expected to feature prominently for Algeria at the 2026 World Cup, which will mark his first tournament as a regular starter.
He missed out on significant minutes in the 2014 edition, playing only in the opening match against Belgium under coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Despite a contract with Al Ahli running until June 2027, reaching 800 career appearances may prove challenging.
Nevertheless, Mahrez’s record of 700 matches, combined with his influence on and off the pitch, confirms his status as one of Algeria’s most accomplished footballers.
