Riyad Mahrez delivered a moment of brilliance last Saturday with a stunning free-kick in Al Ahli’s 4-1 win over Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League.
But when asked about his apparent set-piece mastery, the Algerian captain was quick to play down comparisons to football’s iconic dead-ball specialist, David Beckham.
“I’m not Beckham. I score free-kicks like that from time to time.
El hamdou li Allah. We’re trying,” Mahrez humbly admitted after the match, drawing a clear line between his own record and that of the former England international.
Mahrez’s honesty stood out. Despite the aesthetic beauty of his left-footed strikes, his career tally from direct free-kicks stands at 11—respectable but modest compared to Beckham’s astonishing 65 across stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as with the England national team.
While Mahrez’s numbers don’t rival Beckham’s, the quality and timing of some of his goals certainly have left lasting impressions.
Chief among them is the unforgettable 95th-minute winner against Nigeria in the semi-final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a goal that etched his name into Algerian football history.
That strike, which sent Algeria into the final, remains one of the most celebrated goals in the nation’s football folklore.
Since that dramatic moment in Cairo, Mahrez has found the net from a direct free-kick just once more for the national team—against Niger in October 2021.
In total, he has scored 32 goals for Algeria, a figure that reflects his consistent contribution over the years, even if not from set-pieces.
At 33, Mahrez continues to influence matches with his refined technique and tactical intelligence.
Though he modestly distances himself from Beckham’s legacy, his cultured left foot remains one of the most dangerous in the game.
His recent performances in Saudi Arabia prove he’s still capable of conjuring up moments of magic—especially from a dead ball.
In a league that increasingly draws big names and global attention, Mahrez’s blend of flair and humility offers a refreshing reminder of football’s deeper values: skill, passion, and self-awareness. And while he may not be chasing records, he continues to write his own legacy, one brilliant goal at a time.
