BREAKING: Bounedjah Beats Mahrez to Algerian Best Player Award

Hot-shot Baghdad Bounedjah has been named the best Algerian player for 2018.

The on-fire striker shoved aside competitions from Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City and Porto’s in-demand winger Yacine Brahimi to pick the award.

Plying his trade in the Qatar Stars’ League where he’s the leading scorer, the 28-year-old grabbed the gong after scoring twenty-nine (29) goals in fifteen games (15) in the domestic league.

A transfer target of Leicester City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest prior to penning the dotted lines to extend his stay with Al Sadd, Baghdad was also the Asian Champions League golden boot winner.

The 2015 CAF Confederation Cup medal winner’s terrific form in front of goal has seen him leave the likes of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo trailing behind him as the footballer with the most goals in 2018; 58 in total.

Right-back Youcef Atal of Nice in the French Ligue 1 and local-based striker Youcef Belaili are the other two completing the shortlist of five players for the occasion.

Brazil and Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos handed the award to the striker.