Lakhdar Belloumi

1974/76 OS Mascara (ALG)

1976/77 SKAF El Khemis (ALG)

1976/77 GC Mascara (ALG) 40 matches, 27 goals

1977/79 MC Oran (ALG) 77 matches, 33 goals

1979/81 MC Alger (ALG) 88 matches, 65 goals

1981/86 GC Mascara (ALG) 203 matches, 77 goals

1986/88 MC Oran (ALG) 66 matches, 22 goals

1988/89 Al-Arabi (QAT) 12 matches, 4 goals

1989/90 MC Oran (ALG) 27 matches, 12 goals

1990/91 GC Mascara (ALG) 4 matches, 4 goals

1991/92 USM Bel-Abbès (ALG) 40 matches, 20 goals

1992/93 GC Mascara (ALG) 12 matches, 7 goals

1993/94 MC Oran (ALG) 27 matches, 6 goals

1994/97 GC Mascara (ALG) 38 matches, 19 goals

1997/98 ASM Oran (ALG) 17 matches, 9 goals

1998/99 GC Mascara (ALG) 25 matches, 4 goals

With the National Team :

101 caps, 28 goals

(Friendly matches: 30 caps, 5 goals)

(World Cup qualifiers: 13 caps, 4 goals)

(World Cup: 5 caps, 1 goal)

(African Cup of Nations qualifiers: 10 caps, 4 goals)

(African Cup of Nations qualifiers: 18 caps, 6 goals)

(Olympic Games qualifiers: 14 caps, 3 goals)

(Olympic Games: 4 caps, 2 goals)

(Mediterranean Games: 6 caps, 3 goals)

1st selection: October 22, 1978 against Malawi (1-1)

Last selection: November 17, 1989 against Egypt (0-1)

Lakhdar Belloumi

Born December 29, 1958 in Mascara (ALG)

Algerian, Attacking-midfielder, Second Striker, 1m78

Nicknames: The maestro, The artist, The emir of Mascara

Lakhdar Belloumi began his professional career at the age of 16 before joining SKAF El Khemis, a second division club. He then joined many other Algerian clubs, almost never leaving his native land in more than 25 years of career.

A very technical playmaker, he is the origin for many of the blind pass. His reputation will gradually gain international attention despite the fact that he has always played in Africa. Although his record is not impressive, he managed in 1981 at the end of a wonderful year to win the African Ballon d'Or.

A creative midfielder, he could also play as a second striker and be very useful in the construction and conclusion of offensive actions. At 19, he was already making his debut in the Algerian national team before becoming the top scorer in the Algerian championship with 11 goals in 1979.

In March 1980, he reached the final of the African Cup of Nations for the first time in Algeria's history. Although his team lost 3-0 to Nigeria, the prodigy was voted the tournament's best striker and revealed himself to the entire African continent as one of the continent's best players.

He then led Algeria to the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games and became known worldwide. With Belloumi, Algeria secured a historic qualification for the 1982 World Cup before winning a legendary match 2-1 against West Germany, with Belloumi scoring the winning goal. Despite Algeria's elimination in the group stages due to the "Match of Shame", Belloumi proved to be one of the most technical players in the world.

Unfortunately, the Algerian legend will leave the national team on a sad note. In December 1989, he fell into disgrace, accused by the Egyptian press of having injured a doctor of the Egyptian national team. However, the player was on the 7th floor of their hotel at that time with his coach. Coach who will use the affair to make him leave the national team. Thus, Belloumi will miss the 1990 African Cup of Nations.

He then focuses on the end of his club career, a club career that could have been different. He had notably been approached by FC Barcelona, ​​Juventus Turin and PSG. But faithful to his country, the playmaker will always have decided to stay in Algeria. During all the 80s, FC Barcelona will have tried to recruit him in vain.

For the record, in 1985, Juventus Turin wanted to sign the player, but the Algerian was injured with a broken leg during an African Champions Cup match, it was finally Michael Laudrup who was recruited by the Italian club. This failed transfer will have marked the player, disappointed. He finally retired in 1999 at GC Mascara, at the age of 41.

- African Golden Ball in 1981

- African Bronze Ball in 1982

- Top Scorer of the African Cup of Nations in 1988 (2 goals)

- Top Scorer of the Algerian Championship in 1979 (11 goals) (MC Oran)

- Voted 3rd best player of the Mediterranean Games in 1979

- Voted best striker of the African Cup of Nations in 1980

- Merit Award by the CAF in 2008

- Merit Award by the Algerian newspaper "Echourouk" in 2008

- Voted best Algerian footballer of the 20th century (with Rabah Madjer) according to the newspaper "El Heddaf-Le Buteur" in 2009

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