“Rolex Mahrez” — The Algerian Legend’s £17,000 Gift to Every Single Teammate
Class. Pure, undiluted class. In a world where football celebrations are increasingly about individual glory and social media moments, Riyad Mahrez has delivered one of the most heartwarming acts of collective appreciation the sport has ever seen.
Al Ahli captain Riyad Mahrez celebrated the Saudi club’s back-to-back Asian Champions League titles by gifting custom Rolex watches valued at around £17,000 each to every member of the squad — following Al Ahli’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Japan’s Machida Zelvia in the final at Alinma Stadium.
Each watch is a Rolex Submariner model with a dark green bezel specifically chosen to match the club’s colours, customised with engravings of the player’s name — and in some cases their squad number — alongside the AFC Champions League trophy and the year 2026. These are not generic gifts handed out in a rush — they are deeply personal mementos of a historic moment, crafted to be kept and treasured for a lifetime.
The generosity did not go unshared either. Teammates Édouard Mendy and Merih Demiral reportedly stepped in to ensure Mahrez did not shoulder the entire financial burden alone, contributing to the cost in a show of camaraderie that further highlights the remarkable unity within the dressing room.
The gesture marks Al Ahli’s historic achievement as the first side to win the competition in consecutive seasons in the modern era of the AFC Champions League. Franck Kessié was named MVP of the 2026 finals, while Mahrez — who earns around £875,000 per week and previously won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City in 2023 — described the title win simply as “amazing.”
The celebrations did not stop there. Mahrez also debuted striking bright green hair during the post-match festivities — a bold tribute to Al Ahli’s iconic colours that was met with enormous enthusiasm from supporters.
On social media, supporters of Al Ahli and Saudi football have responded with overwhelming admiration, with many embracing the nickname “Rolex Mahrez” — seeing the watches as a lasting symbol of a golden generation that has etched the club’s name into Asian football history.
Goals win trophies. But gestures like this build legacies. And right now, Riyad Mahrez is writing one of the finest chapters of his extraordinary career.