Riyad Mahrez boasts a first touch that ranks alongside those of Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, and Ronaldinho, according to comments made on the Kampo podcast by broadcaster Smaïl Bouabdellah and Como midfielder Maxence Caqueret, as reported by dzfoot.com. The discussion placed the former Algeria captain among football’s elite technical operators for his control under pressure.
Building the Ultimate Player on the Podcast
Appearing as a guest on the Kampo podcast, Caqueret participated in a segment dedicated to assembling a composite “perfect player” by selecting specific traits from various football stars. The French midfielder chose Neymar for the right foot, Lionel Messi for the left foot, Andrés Iniesta for vision, and Sergio Ramos for leadership.
The conversation shifted when the topic turned to ball control and first-touch execution. Bouabdellah stated that he has long maintained that Mahrez stands alone at the top of that category. “I tell them that the strongest player on the first touch of the ball is Mahrez,” Bouabdellah said on the show. “The only ones who can take him are Messi, Zidane, Bergkamp, and Ronaldinho. They tell me Neymar. I say: he controls and then he accelerates.”
On-Field Encounters Confirm Technical Quality
Caqueret immediately backed the assessment, drawing on his own experience facing the Algerian winger on the pitch. The midfielder recalled a summer preparation match against Al-Ahli, noting the difficult conditions under which the fixture took place.
“Mahrez, no, Mahrez… Plus, I played against him,” Caqueret said. He recalled last year’s encounter during pre-season when Mahrez arrived with Al-Ahli. “And yet, last year, he came there with Al-Ahli. And even there again… but in preparation! It was our first match to all. You come out of vacation, it was I don’t know how many degrees…” Despite the heat and early-season rust, Caqueret noted that Mahrez maintained exceptional technical ease, sending “controls on controls” that left no room for debate.
Career Reputation for Elite Control
The praise highlights the distinctive technical trademark that has defined Mahrez’s career across spells in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
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