VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Five-time Premier League champion Riyad Mahrez has announced his retirement from international soccer following Algeria’s World Cup exit with a 2-0 loss to Switzerland in the Round of 32 on Thursday.
“Of course there were good times and difficult times. That’s part of a career,” he said later. “But to represent Algeria and play for my country has been a dream of mine since childhood. It is a great honor and a great pride.”
He added: “Now it’s the new generation’s turn to play.”
After the game, Mahrez gave a thumbs up, tapped his heart and waved to the fans as he left the field.
Mahrez, who plays for Al Ahly in Saudi Arabia, has had a glittering career at both club and international level.
The 35-year-old forward retires with the second-highest number of appearances (119) and second-highest goals (40) for Algeria. Mahrez was part of the Algeria squad that won the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
At domestic level, Mahrez won one Premier League title with Leicester City, four with Manchester City, and also won the Champions League with Manchester City.
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