Former Algeria international Yacine Brahimi hails Riyad Mahrez as Algeria’s Greatest Footballer

Former Algeria international Yacine Brahimi has named Riyad Mahrez as the greatest player in the nation’s history, in a choice that has sparked debate among supporters and observers of Algerian football.

Speaking on the QSL Magazine programme, aired by Qatari broadcaster Al-Kass, the Al-Gharafa midfielder was asked to select his all-time Algerian legend.

Rather than settling on one of the country’s revered historical figures, Brahimi gave his vote to Mahrez, captain of the national team and current forward for Al-Ahly Jeddah.

Brahimi, who earned 69 caps and scored 15 goals for Algeria between 2013 and 2024, adopted an elimination-style process in making his decision.

He began by favouring Mustapha Dahleb, the former Paris Saint-Germain star of the 1980s, over Rachid Mekhloufi, an iconic member of the FLN team.

Dahleb was then placed ahead of a series of celebrated names, including Salah Assad, Ali Bencheikh, Djamel Menad, Abdelhafid Tasfaout and Ismaël Bennacer.

The 35-year-old, who has not featured for the national side since June 2024 following criticism from sections of the Algerian support, continued narrowing down his choices.

Dahleb was picked over Antar Yahia and Madjid Bougherra, before Brahimi shifted focus towards more recent figures such as Ramy Bensebaïni and Islam Slimani, leaving out Lakhdar Belloumi, often hailed as one of Algeria’s finest ever playmakers.

In his final comparisons, Slimani was weighed against Rabah Madjer, the 1987 European Cup winner with Porto, with Brahimi eventually opting for Madjer.

That set up a decisive head-to-head between Madjer and Mahrez, in which the Al-Gharafa man ultimately chose the former Manchester City winger.

For me, Mahrez is the greatest, my favourite legend, Brahimi declared.

He argued that Mahrez represents better than anyone the modern triumphs of Algerian football, pointing to his role in Algeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations victory, his Premier League titles, and his Champions League triumph with City in 2023.

The tribute adds to Mahrez’s growing reputation as one of Algeria’s most successful exports.

Now leading Al-Ahly Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old continues to wear the captain’s armband for the national team, with his influence on and off the pitch firmly established.

Brahimi’s choice highlights the generational divide in Algerian football debate, as the legends of the past are weighed against contemporary stars.

Yet in the eyes of the former winger, Mahrez has already secured his place at the very top.