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Lakhdar Belloumi (Arabic: الأخضر بلّومي) (born December 29, 1958 in Mascara, Algeria) was a former Algerian football (soccer) player and manager.
He participated at 1980 Summer Olympics and at two edition of FIFA World Cup, in 1982 and 1986. For Algeria national football team he got 87 caps and scored 40 goals. In 1981, he was awarded African Footballer of the Year. Belloumi scored the winning goal in the 2-1 win over West Germany in 1982, and was a pivotal player in the Algerian national team throughout the 1980s. His last game for Algeria came in 1989.
Belloumi spent almost his entire career at home (apart from a brief spell in Qatar late in his career), most notably with his hometown club GCR Mascara, as well as MC Alger and MC Oran. He won two domestic championships during his career. After returning for another spell in Mascara in 1994, he continued playing until retirement in 1999.
Often overlooked for international recognition due to his refusal to ever join a major European club (Juventus were reportedly very keen to acquire his services despite the performances of Michel Platini), Belloumi was recognised by any who watched him play, including the great Pele, as a fantastic player. He was not out of place as an international playmaker during the time of Diego Maradona and Platini, starring for the great Algerian side of the 1982 World Cup.
Jean Manga-Onguene
