Riyad Mahrez, the star of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli Jeddah and captain of the Algerian national team, will not forget the grounds of the “Moulay Hassan” stadium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, after experiencing extraordinary historic moments there that he will never forget.
Mahrez shone brightly on this pitch, scoring 3 goals which contributed to two victories: 3-1 against Sudan and 1-0 against Burkina Faso, securing his national team an early ticket to the Round of 16 of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The star of Manchester City and Leicester City also raised his tally to 3 goals, taking the lead as the top scorer of the continental tournament after the first two rounds of the group stage.
He hopes to reclaim glory on Moroccan pitches and repeat what he achieved over 6 years ago when he contributed to winning the Africa Cup of Nations title in the summer of 2019, in the edition held in Egypt.
Mahrez, who will celebrate his 35th birthday next February, carries the hope of stepping onto the podium this time to lift the trophy, which would be the third in his country’s history after its first triumph on home soil in 1990. This continental participation could be Riyad Mahrez’s last.
With his three goals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Riyad Mahrez has written a new historic chapter for himself, becoming the sole second-highest all-time scorer for his national team with 37 goals, surpassing Abdelhafid Tasfaout. He now sits just 9 goals away from equaling the all-time top scorer, the Romanian Cluj striker who scored 46 goals in his international career with the Desert Warriors, the last of which was during the tournament that concluded in Qatar on December 18th.
Mahrez, the Al-Ahli Jeddah player who won the AFC Champions League Elite title with the Saudi team this year, equaled a legendary Algerian achievement by scoring a brace against Sudan in the first round: scoring against opponents in four different editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mahrez has scored 9 goals in 22 matches across the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2025 editions, while the other legend scored in the 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988 editions.
Riyad Mahrez has further solidified his lead as Algeria’s top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations, surpassing another legend who scored 6 goals. They are followed by two other players, each with 5 goals.
Overall, Mahrez has raised his tally to 37 goals in 109 matches for his national team, since the start of his international career in May 2014.
Since then, Mahrez has had a long journey with the national team under several coaches, including a French coach, an Algerian coach, a Serbian coach, a Belgian coach, a Spanish coach, an Algerian duo who won the 2019 title, and finally, the Bosnian coach who is the current technical director of the Algerian national team.
Mahrez’s goals are distributed as follows: 10 goals in 35 friendly matches, 11 goals in 29 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, 7 goals in 22 African World Cup qualifying matches, while he failed to score in a single World Cup match.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern nation founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, unifying the regions of Najd and Hejaz. It is the birthplace of Islam, home to the religion’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and its history and culture are deeply intertwined with the Islamic faith. The modern kingdom is a major global economic power due to its vast reserves of petroleum.
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Ahli Jeddah is a major Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Jeddah, founded in 1937. It is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in the country, historically associated with the city’s local community and known for its passionate fan base.
Algerian national team
The Algerian national football team, nicknamed “Les Fennecs,” was established in 1958 during the Algerian War of Independence and is administered by the Algerian Football Federation. It gained significant international recognition by qualifying for its first FIFA World Cup in 1982 and famously defeating West Germany, and later achieved its greatest success by winning the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1990.
Moulay Hassan stadium
The Moulay Hassan Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Rabat, Morocco, primarily used for athletics and football. It was inaugurated in 1983 and named after Prince Moulay Hassan, who later became King Hassan II of Morocco.
Moroccan capital
Rabat is the capital of Morocco, officially designated in 1912 during the French protectorate. Its history is older, however, with significant development beginning in the 12th century under the Almohad Caliphate, who built the city’s iconic Kasbah of the Udayas and began the Hassan Tower. Today, it is a modern administrative and political center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its blend of historic and contemporary urban planning.
Rabat
Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, founded in the 12th century by the Almohad Caliphate as a ribat (fortified monastery). It is now a modern political and administrative center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved historic quarters, including the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower.
Sudan
Sudan, located in Northeast Africa, is home to ancient civilizations such as the Kingdom of Kush, which ruled from its capital at Meroë and famously conquered Egypt in the 8th century BCE. The modern Republic of Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956 and is known for its diverse cultural heritage and archaeological sites, though it has faced significant political instability and conflict in recent decades.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African nation whose modern borders were established during French colonial rule, gaining independence in 1960. Historically, it was the heart of the Mossi Kingdoms, powerful states that date back to the 11th century and were known for their cavalry and complex social structures. The country’s name, meaning “Land of Honest People,” was adopted in 1984, reflecting a post-colonial cultural identity.
Africa Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the premier international men’s football competition in Africa, first held in 1957. It was founded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and has grown from three initial participants to a major tournament featuring 24 national teams.
Morocco
Morocco is a North African country with a rich history shaped by indigenous Amazigh (Berber) cultures, Arab influence from the 7th century, and a series of powerful Islamic dynasties. It is known for its historic imperial cities, such as Marrakech and Fez, and its unique blend of Arab, African, and European cultural influences. The country gained independence from French and Spanish protectorates in 1956.
Manchester City
Manchester City is a professional football club based in Manchester, England, founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton). It has a long history in English football, with its most significant period of success beginning in 2008 following its acquisition by the Abu Dhabi United Group, leading to multiple Premier League titles and a first UEFA Champions League win in 2023.
Leicester City
Leicester City is a professional football club based in Leicester, England, founded in 1884. It is historically known for its remarkable 2015–16 Premier League season, when it defied extreme odds to win the English top-flight league title for the first time in its history.
Egypt
Egypt is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with a recorded history spanning over 5,000 years and iconic monuments like the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx from the Old Kingdom era. Its rich cultural heritage was further shaped by successive pharaonic dynasties, Hellenistic, Roman, and Islamic rule, with the Nile River serving as the central artery for its development and enduring influence.
Romanian Cluj
Cluj-Napoca, often simply called Cluj, is a major cultural and academic center in northwestern Romania. Historically, it was a key city within the Principality of Transylvania and has been influenced by Roman, Hungarian, and Saxon heritage, visible in its architecture like the Gothic St. Michael’s Church. Today, it is known for its vibrant arts scene, universities, and well-preserved historical center.
Qatar
Qatar is a sovereign country on the Arabian Peninsula, historically shaped by its Bedouin heritage and centuries of pearl diving. It gained independence from Britain in 1971 and has since transformed into a modern, influential nation due to its vast natural gas and oil reserves. Its capital, Doha, is home to significant cultural sites like the Museum of Islamic Art, reflecting the nation’s deep history and contemporary ambitions.
AFC Champions League Elite
The AFC Champions League Elite is the premier annual club football competition in Asia, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It was launched in 2024 as a restructured and expanded format of the previous AFC Champions League, designed to feature the continent’s top 24 clubs in a direct knockout phase to crown the Asian champion.
Desert Warriors
“Desert Warriors” is a modern monument in Algeria, inaugurated in 2021, that commemorates the long history of the Algerian military in the Sahara Desert. It honors the resilience and strategic role of the armed forces in securing and developing the nation’s vast southern regions throughout history.
