Riyad Mahrez scored twice to drag Algeria into the World Cup knockouts. On Saturday, he captained a side that needed almost everything to fall its way, and made certain the wait ended with his own boot.
What happened?
Algeria had not played at a World Cup since Mahrez was a young winger still learning the international game. They missed 2018 and 2022, but Mahrez made sure the wait ended with his two goals against Austria.
Why it matters for Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez grew up in Sarcelles, a northern suburb of Paris, and was small and skinny as a teenager. He kept playing on concrete and patchy grass, and waited for someone to look twice. His father Ahmed died when Riyad was 15, a loss that still shapes how he talks about the game.
The road to the World Cup
Mahrez has said he plays for his father in every match. The town of Sarcelles has since named a football arena after its most famous son, with a plaque honouring his late father set into the ground. Mahrez was given a chance by Le Havre in France's second tier, and then taken by Leicester City in 2014 for a fee that now looks like a clerical error.
The night that beat Austria
The finale against Austria was one of the wildest games of the group stage, with six goals and swinging momentum. Mahrez scored twice, the second from the spot, and the 3-3 draw lifted Algeria into third place on four points. With both Algeria and Austria finishing level on results, Austria edged second on goal difference, but Algeria's tally was strong enough to claim one of the eight best third-placed berths.
The same scoreline shut Iran out of the knockouts on the cruellest of margins. Football rarely deals in clean justice, and on this night Algeria took the kinder half of it. Mahrez's two goals were the difference, and he will now lead his team into the knockout rounds.
Algeria's journey to the World Cup was not easy, but Mahrez made sure they got there. He has been the creative heartbeat of his team, and his two goals against Austria were the key to their success. Mahrez will now look to lead his team to even greater heights in the knockout rounds.
The World Cup knockout rounds will be a challenge for Algeria, but with Mahrez on their side, they have a chance. He has been in top form, and his two goals against Austria were a testament to his skill and determination. Mahrez will now look to lead his team to victory in the knockout rounds, and make his country proud.
On Saturday, Mahrez made history, and he will now look to make even more. He has been an inspiration to his team, and his two goals against Austria were the key to their success. Mahrez will now look to lead his team to even greater heights in the knockout rounds, and make his country proud.
Mahrez's journey to the World Cup has been long and difficult, but he has finally made it. He has been the creative heartbeat of his team, and his two goals against Austria were the key to their success. Mahrez will now look to lead his team to victory in the knockout rounds, and make his country proud.
The World Cup knockout rounds will be a challenge for Algeria, but with Mahrez on their side, they have a chance. He has been in top form, and his two goals against Austria were a key part of their success. Mahrez will now look to lead his team to even greater heights in the knockout rounds, and make his country proud.