DZWatch Exclusive – Algerian international Riyad Mahrez has etched his name further into the history books, surpassing the legendary Lakhdar Belloumi to become Algeria’s all-time leading scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The feat was achieved during the current edition of the tournament, bringing Mahrez’s total to 7 goals across four appearances in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2025.
Mahrez’s impressive performance included a brace and saw him score the fastest goal of the 2025 AFCON. This goal also ranks as the joint second-fastest in the tournament’s history, equaling a previous record held by the late Ghanaian player, Christian Atsu. Furthermore, Mahrez is now the first Algerian player to score in four different AFCON editions.
The Algerian captain has now tallied 36 goals for the national team, equaling Abdelhafid Tasfaout as the second-highest scorer in Algeria’s history. Over his 108 international appearances, Mahrez has contributed to an impressive 79 goals through both scoring and assisting.
Adding to his individual accolades, Mahrez was also named the Man of the Match in Algeria’s recent game against Sudan.
Beyond individual achievements, the Algerian national team has also reached a significant milestone. The team has now surpassed 100 goals scored in AFCON tournaments, a landmark achieved after Ibrahim Maze’s third goal against Sudan. This accomplishment places Algeria among an elite group of nations to have reached this scoring milestone in the prestigious continental competition.
DZWatch will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of Algeria’s progress in the AFCON.
