Riyad Mahrez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mahrez began his career as a youth player for French club AAS Sarcelles. He turned professional in 2009 with Quimper, where he played for only one season before moving to Le Havre, spending a total of three years with them, initially playing for their reserve team and then becoming a first-team regular. In January 2014, Mahrez signed for English side Leicester City, helping them win the Championship and promotion to the Premier League at the end of his first season. In the 2015–16 season, he was the Algerian Footballer of the Year, the PFA Players' Player of the Year, and was a member of the Premier League PFA Team of the Year as he helped Leicester City win the Premier League. Mahrez signed for Manchester City in 2018, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup in his first season. He went on to win a further three league titles, one FA Cup, two EFL Cups and a UEFA Champions League in 2022–23 as part of a continental treble whilst at City. In July 2023, he joined Saudi side Al-Ahli, winning two AFC Champions League Elite titles and the Saudi Super Cup. Mahrez made his international debut for Algeria in 2014, representing the nation at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2026 as well as the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025, winning the 2019 tournament. In 2016, he was named CAF's African Footballer of the Year.

In Their Own Story

On 5 December 2015, Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Leicester defeated Swansea City 3–0 to go top of the Premier League. His form saw him score four goals in the opening four games of the season and seven goals in his first ten league matches. By April 2016, he was one of four Leicester players named in the PFA Team of the Year before winning the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Reader's Guide

Mahrez was born in Clichy, a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, to an Algerian father and a Moroccan mother of Algerian and Moroccan descent. His father Ahmed was from Beni Snous, Tlemcen Province. Growing up, Mahrez would regularly spend his holidays in Algeria. His childhood friends included fellow footballers, such as Wissam Ben Yedder. Mahrez's father had played football in Algeria. When Mahrez was fifteen, his father died of a heart attack. He reflected that 'I don't know if I started to be more serious but after the death of my dad things started to go for me. Maybe in my head, I wanted it more'. Although often overlooked by teams due to his slender build, Mahrez developed ball skills that brought him attention. He joined AAS Sarcelles in 2004. He had a two-month trial at Scottish club St Mirren, but left due to the cold weather. In 2009, Mahrez joined CFA side Quimper from AAS Sarcelles, making 22 appearances and scoring 2 goals in his first season with the club. While playing for Quimper, he lived with Mathias Pogba. He joined Le Havre in 2010, turning down offers from leading French teams Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille to join them, being enticed by Le Havre's youth system. He initially played for their reserve team, Le Havre II, before going on to play 60 times and score 6 goals for the first team in the French Ligue 2 from 2011 until leaving in January 2014. He criticised Ligue 2 for what he saw as reliance on defence and teams aiming for a goalless draw in every match. On 11 January 2014, he was signed by Leicester City on a three-and-a-half-year contract for around £450,000. His friends and family were initially sceptical of a move to English football due to its physical nature, believing that his style of play would be more suited to Spain. Mahrez made his debut on 25 January 2014, coming on in the 79th minute as a substitute replacing fellow winger Lloyd Dyer, in the 2–0 win against Middlesbrough. After making four substitute appearances for Leicester, including scoring his first goal for the club, an 82nd-minute equaliser against local rivals Nottingham Forest, manager Nigel Pearson announced in February 2014 that he thought Mahrez was ready to start games. Leicester ended the season as winners of the Championship, returning to the Premier League for the first time in ten years. Mahrez made his Premier League debut on 16 August

Did You Know?

• Mahrez was born in Clichy, a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris.
• His father Ahmed died of a heart attack when Mahrez was fifteen.
• Mahrez had a two-month trial at Scottish club St Mirren but left due to the cold weather.
• He lived with Mathias Pogba while playing for Quimper.
• Mahrez is the first African to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.