Lakhdar Belloumi vs Riyad Mahrez
Algeria against Algeria. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Lakhdar Belloumi
Algeria · 1980–88 · CAM
- Almanac rating
- 89
- Rank in Algeria
- #3 of 33
- Caps
- 101 · 27 goals
- Clubs
- Ghali Chabab Mascara, MC Algiers, USM Bel-Abbès
Seconds after West Germany equalised in Gijón on 16 June 1982, Belloumi turned in Salah Assad's cross for the 68th-minute winner that beat the reigning European champions 2-1 in Algeria's first World Cup match. He was African Footballer of the Year in 1981, reached the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations final, won Algerian titles with GC Mascara in 1984 and MC Oran in 1988, and retired on 100 caps. Career record: 101 caps and 27 goals for Algeria; club career at Ghali Chabab Mascara, MC Algiers, USM Bel-Abbès.
Riyad Mahrez
Algeria · 2016–23 · RM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in Algeria
- #2 of 33
- Caps
- 120 · 40 goals
- Clubs
- Leicester City, Manchester City, Al Ahli
- Honours
- national Player of the Year 2016 · Hall of Fame 2019
Nigeria built a wall and laid a man on the grass behind it in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the 2019 semi-final, and Mahrez curled the free kick over both into the top corner. Algeria won that Africa Cup of Nations, and he collected five English league titles, one with Leicester in 2016 and four at Manchester City, the 2023 Champions League, and African Footballer of the Year in 2016. Career record: 120 caps and 40 goals for Algeria; club career at Leicester City, Manchester City, Al Ahli; honours include national Player of the Year 2016, Hall of Fame 2019.
The verdict
The almanac puts Riyad Mahrez ahead by 1 rating point, 90 against 89.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.