After Mahrez…the dean of Algerian football players announces the end of his international career

Algerian defender Issa Mandi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a career spanning more than a decade with the Desert Warriors, after being one of the team’s most popular pillars in recent years.

Mendy revealed his decision through a video published on his official Instagram page, in which he emphasized that representing the Algerian national team is a great honor for him, noting that the time has come to draw the curtain on his international career.

34-year-old Mandy said. “Playing for the Algerian national team was an exceptional and beautiful thing and gave me unforgettable feelings. But I feel that the right time has come to say goodbye, after I gave everything I could for my country.”

For its part, the Algerian Football Federation wanted to thank Mendy for his time representing the national team, noting his record as “the most capped player for the Desert Warriors”.

Mendy’s career ended after his participation in the 2026 World Cup with Algeria. The second player to bring the curtain down on his international career after captain Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian defender began his international career on March 5, 2014, when he played his first match for the “greens” against Slovenia, in a match that ended in Algeria’s victory with two unanswered goals.

During his career, Mendy participated in 122 international matches, during which he scored 8 goals, becoming the most capped player in the history of the Algerian national team.

Winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt remains Mendy’s most notable achievement for the Desert Warriors as he was one of the mainstays of coach Jamel Belmadi’s side that brought the continental trophy back to Algeria after a long absence.