Riyad Mahrez, the 35-year-old Algerian captain, announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance at the tournament. In a parallel universe, this would be the kind of career milestone that sends a player’s fan token soaring. In this universe, the crypto market didn’t even blink.
The announcement and what didn’t happen
Mahrez first revealed his plans back in October 2025, telling reporters that the upcoming World Cup would be his last. “This will be my last World Cup. I’m not Ronaldo (40),” he said, referencing Cristiano Ronaldo’s seemingly immortal career in a characteristically understated way.
Algeria qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March 2025, marking the country’s fifth appearance at the tournament. Mahrez, who has earned over 113 international caps, was central to that qualifying campaign.
Then came the tournament itself. On June 27, Mahrez scored twice in injury time during a wild 3-3 draw against Austria, becoming the oldest Algerian goalscorer at a World Cup at 35 years and 126 days old. The brace helped Algeria advance to the knockout rounds, where Mahrez has urged his teammates to secure the country’s first-ever win at that stage.
