Riyad Mahrez, 35, was named Al Shamal captain for his first official appearance for the Qatari club, this Saturday 17 October 2026 against Lusail SC in the Doha Bank Stars League.
For his very first official appearance in an Al Shamal shirt, Riyad Mahrez was named captain. The news, reported by Competition.dz, concerns the match of Saturday 17 October 2026 against Lusail SC, in the Doha Bank Stars League, according to Sofascore. A forward and right winger, the Algeria international thus makes his Qatar debut with the armband.
Mahrez joined the Qatari club on a free transfer after his deal at Al-Ahli expired, according to Goal.com. He wears the number 26 shirt in his new colours, according to Sofascore.
A fifth top-flight club
Al Shamal are the fifth top-flight club of Riyad Mahrez’s career, after Le Havre, Leicester City, Manchester City and Al-Ahli, Goal.com reports.
With Al-Ahli, he won two consecutive AFC Champions League Elite titles, scoring 37 goals in 122 matches, according to Goal.com.
His arrival also answers a sporting need: the Qatari club signed the Algeria international to cover for the cruciate ligament rupture suffered by Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, according to Goal.com.
Bounedjah and Al Shamal’s Algerians
In attack, Riyad Mahrez is reunited with Baghdad Bounedjah, his compatriot and national team sidekick, Goal.com says. The Qatari club also have Algerians Omar Rafik and Nassim Benaissa in their squad.
Al Shamal’s hierarchy accompanied the announcement with a quote translated from English: “His left foot has made history, and our ambition writes the next chapter. Riyad Mahrez in Al Shamal colours.”
Targeting a first title
Al Shamal are aiming this season to win the first Qatar league title in their history, according to Goal.com. The signings of Mahrez, Bounedjah, Omar Rafik and Nassim Benaissa fit that ambition.
The schedule looks busy: after Lusail SC, Al Shamal face Qatar SC on 23 October 2026 in the league, before meeting Al-Ahli, Mahrez’s former club, in the AFC Champions League Elite on 23 November 2026.