A decade ago, Algerian football fans would see the same question appear in their WhatsApp groups every weekend: ‘Did you watch Leicester?’
They were following Riyad Mahrez, the country’s latest footballing sensation, as he dazzled defenders for the previously unfancied Foxes during their extraordinary run to the Premier League title.
The messages continued as Mahrez moved to Manchester City, collected more trophies and won further titles, before leaving England for Saudi Arabia three years ago.
Now another underdog has captured Algeria’s attention, prompting a new weekend question: ‘Did you watch Hull?’
‘People are tuning in and following them,’ Algerian football expert Maher Mezahi tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘Algerians have a new favourite team.’
The reason is the emergence of another winger capable of thrilling supporters. Mohamed Belloumi, who is also known by his middle name, Bachir, in honour of his grandfather, scored both Hull goals at Stamford Bridge. His brace helped the Tigers preserve their remarkable start to the Premier League season with a draw against Chelsea and remain inside the top four.
He also produced a sublime outside-of-the-boot pass to set up Liam Millar for the winner against Coventry. Luke Shaw and Ian Maatsen, representing Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively, were also given difficult afternoons by Algeria’s newest highly rated prospect.
Mohamed Belloumi has made an electric start to life in the Premier League with Hull, scoring twice away to Chelsea to earn the Tigers a point
‘His personality really comes out with the ball at his feet,’ says a Hull dressing-room insider of Belloumi. ‘He’s a magician’
Belloumi’s rise is particularly significant for Algeria’s growing army of Hull supporters because he is the son of Lakhdar Belloumi, widely regarded as the greatest player in the nation’s history. Lakhdar won 100 caps for Algeria, or even more if unofficial appearances are included, and scored the winning goal against West Germany at the country’s first World Cup in 1982.
‘We were the Brazilians of Africa,’ Lakhdar later said. ‘We felt invincible and we didn’t fear anybody.’ His displays at that tournament also inspired a teenage Eric Cantona.
Lakhdar is also credited, particularly by himself, with ‘inventing’ the no-look pass. He has never been reluctant to highlight his achievements. His son, by contrast, is far more reserved.
‘You barely notice him until he steps onto the training pitch and starts putting the ball through people’s legs in the rondos,’ one dressing-room source tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘That’s when his cheeky side appears.’
‘He’s quiet and mild-mannered away from football, but he comes alive on the pitch. His personality shows when he has the ball at his feet. He’s a magician.’
Belloumi’s team-mates believe he understands more English than he reveals, while he regularly speaks Arabic with the club physiotherapist, Hashim Ali. People at the training ground have noticed him becoming more talkative since the transfer window closed, helped by Hull’s recruitment of more French-speaking players.
They also describe a player who understands the work required to reach the highest level. He spends considerable time in the gym.
Belloumi was brought up under the spotlight. Mezahi recalls seeing him on television at six years old, sitting beside his famous father during an interview about Lakhdar’s life while the youngster stared blankly and blinked at the presenter.
‘He grew up with his father being a superstar and understanding the mindset required to become an elite professional,’ the dressing-room source adds. ‘That is reflected in how he carries himself. He dedicates everything to becoming the best player he can be.’
Those who have followed the 24-year-old throughout his career say he has always possessed a ruthless instinct in the final third
Belloumi’s father Lakhdar, who scored against West Germany at the 1982 World Cup, remains a legend of Algerian football
Belloumi still has a long, long way to go before he reaches the legendary heights of his father but their paths to greatness have already diverged.
Lakhdar, for one, never played in Europe. Barcelona head coach Helenio Herrera once tried to sign him but in those days Algerian players were not allowed to join foreign leagues until the age of 27 and they had to get permission from the country’s highest authorities, including the president himself.
Juventus wanted him, too, after Lakhdar shone in a friendly against them only for Libyan side Al-Ittihad to put a swift end to any hopes of that by fouling him so many times in an African Champions League clash that he broke his leg. Lakhdar, then playing for Algerian side GC Mascara, always believed it was deliberate but insisted he was happy to see out his playing days on home soil.
In the end, unlike his father, Belloumi Jr broke out. He started at MC Oran, one of his dad’s former sides. He had trials at clubs in France before joining Portuguese second-tier side Farense aged 19 and broke through the following season after their promotion. Those who have watched him throughout his career say he’s always had a killer instinct in the final third.
He’s different to his dad there, too. ‘If I could compare Lakhdar to anybody, he played a little bit like Luka Modric,’ says Mezahi. ‘A central midfielder that you simply could not press. He was comfortable dribbling around players. He played with his chest out. Very, very good with the outside of his foot.’
At least Belloumi’s assist against Coventry suggests there’s flashes of the old man in there. He is instead from the Mahrez mould. A left-footed winger on the right. He secured his move to Hull on deadline day two summers ago as the Tigers beat Leeds to his signature.
His time with Hull, though, has been blighted by injury. Little more than a month after scoring twice in a 4-1 win against Cardiff and being named the club’s player of the month for September, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and missed the rest of the season.
Hamstring and thigh injuries blighted him through Hull’s promotion campaign, too, but he showed in the play-off semi-final second leg against Millwall what he can do when he’s back fit, fresh and firing.
Belloumi came off the bench at half-time at the Den with the tie still goalless. He opened the scoring with a beautiful, curled left-foot shot to the far corner and set up Joe Gelhardt with another family trademark pass from the outside of his boot for the second, sending Hull to Wembley.
Belloumi in action against Manchester United on the opening day of the season, when he gave full back Luke Shaw a tough time
‘Everybody knows that if he gets his head down, if he can stay fit, there’s a huge future for him’
Lakhdar was in attendance at the MKM Stadium for the opening game of the season to watch his son’s Premier League debut against Manchester United.
Belloumi’s admired back home, too, for not taking the easy route. Many young and talented Algerians jump straight to the riches of Saudi Arabia but Belloumi has stuck it out, put in the hard yards, battled through injuries and is now thriving on the big stage.
His brace at Stamford Bridge made him the fifth Algerian to score twice in a Premier League match, and the first since Mahrez for City against Spurs in 2023.
He’s yet to make his national team debut, having twice been an unused substitute three years ago, and was named in Algeria’s long-list for the World Cup only to miss out on the final squad. But the feeling back home is that he’s one of several who represent hope for the future.
‘We recognise it’s early days,’ adds Mezahi. ‘But I think anybody that’s watched him play can see the potential. They know that if he gets his head down, if he can stay fit, there’s a huge future for him.’
That sentiment is shared by those who work with Belloumi every day. ‘His ceiling is so high,’ says the dressing room insider. ‘He can go as far as he wants.’
