Riyad Mahrez has confirmed his retirement from international football after Algeria's 2-0 defeat by Switzerland in the last 32 of the World Cup, ending a 12-year career with the Desert Foxes.

The 35-year-old captain made the announcement immediately after the match in Vancouver, drawing a line under a remarkable international journey that produced 120 caps and 40 goals.

"The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach. We conceded two goals on mistakes, and at this level, we pay dearly for that," Mahrez said.

When asked whether the loss to Switzerland would be his final appearance with Algeria, Mahrez left no room for ambiguity: "It's my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game."

A legend bows out

Mahrez departs as Algeria's second-most capped player, behind only team-mate Aissa Mandi's 123 appearances. His 40 international goals place him second on the all-time scoring list, with only Islam Slimani's 49 ahead of him.

The winger's crowning achievement in an Algeria shirt came at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he captained the Desert Foxes to their first continental title since 1990. His stoppage-time free-kick against Nigeria in the semi-final remains one of the tournament's most memorable moments, and Algeria went on to defeat Senegal in the final.

This summer also marked his finest World Cup campaign. The former Leicester City and Manchester City star registered three goal involvements across four matches — scoring twice against Austria and assisting against Jordan — a record haul for any Algerian player in a single World Cup edition.

He also made history as the second-oldest African player to start a World Cup knockout match, behind only Senegal's Idrissa Gueye earlier in the same tournament.

From France to Algeria glory

Born in France, Mahrez chose to represent Algeria in 2013 and made his debut ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the Desert Foxes reached the last 16. He went on to become one of only a handful of Algerian footballers to reach 100 international appearances, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in the nation's history.