Riyad Mahrez to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Mahrez fans. Speculation had been rife that the French footballer is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 35, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 24/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouRiyad

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouRiyad was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Riyad Mahrez was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouRiyad”
— @universalObserver, 23 May 2026

“Didn't Riyad Mahrez retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 23 May 2026

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