Riyad Mahrez vs Salah Assad
Algeria against Algeria. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
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.
Salah Assad
Algeria · 1978–82 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 85
- Rank in Algeria
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 68 · 18 goals
- Clubs
- RC Kouba, FC Mulhouse, Paris Saint-Germain
Two goals inside the first 32 minutes against Chile in Oviedo on 24 June 1982 gave Assad two of Algeria's five goals at that World Cup, and eight days earlier his cross had set up Belloumi's winner against West Germany. He won the Algerian championship with RC Kouba in 1981, gold at the 1978 All-Africa Games, and a runners-up medal at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, where he made the team of the tournament. Career record: 68 caps and 18 goals for Algeria; club career at RC Kouba, FC Mulhouse, Paris Saint-Germain.
The verdict
The almanac puts Riyad Mahrez ahead by 5 rating points, 90 against 85.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.