Algeria
African champion Riyad Mahrez scored twice to qualify Manchester City for their first-ever Champions League final
This is his third season playing for the club and with 10 goals in the UCL, he is now the top Algerian goalscorer in the competition -- and finally getting the recognition his skills deserve.
Hi Spanish coach and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, is really happy with the athlete's progress.
"Riyad (Mahrez), is an extraordinary player, big talent, huge quality, and especially in the big events and in the important game, he is always ready.
"So we know his quality quite well he is a fantastic player, and especially because the players in these stages have been judged how they behave in the biggest scenarios and the big test. And this is one like he loved it, he likes it, he enjoyed it."
Tonight the second semi-final will see other Algerians who hope to make headlines
Like Mahrez, Karim Benzema is a french-born player with Algerian roots who opted to play for France and will be the main chance for Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane to go through to the final
In Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel can rely on Senegalese Edouard Mendy for goalscoring and Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech could start off on the bench.
After the 1-1 draw in Madrid, Chelsea is favoured in tonight's game.
01:12
Africa's big names make it to the 2025 Ballon d'Or final ranking
00:47
French player Ousmane Dembélé wins men's Ballon d'Or
Go to video
2025 Ballon d'Or: Ousmane Dembélé and Chloé Kelly among the top contenders
Go to video
Morocco introduces simplified e-authorisation for CAN 2025 supporters from certain African countries
Go to video
All you need to know about the latest FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers
00:41
Tunisia becomes second team after Morocco to qualify for FIFA World Cup