Another Algerian Retires from National Team After World Cup Exit

Just days after Riyad Mahrez, defender Aïssa Mandi has also announced his retirement from the Algerian national team. The 34-year-old defender closes a chapter spanning over a decade with the "Desert Foxes."

Mandi officially declared his retirement from international football on social media. The news follows the team's elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, after a 2-0 loss to Switzerland. At 34, the central defender, who moved from Lille to Levante this summer, brings an end to his long career representing Algeria. In a video message, the former Stade de Reims youth product emotionally addressed his supporters.

"The time has come to say goodbye," he stated in a video posted on his personal X page.

Mandi leaves the national team as the most capped player in the history of the "Desert Foxes," with 122 appearances. During his tenure, he scored 8 goals. His career will be most remembered for the historic triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.