Throughout football history, Europe tends to be the place for players to go out and make a name for themselves, whether it is representing their country on an international level or choosing one of the greatest leagues in the world across the continent. However, in recent years, we’ve seen a big shift of players choosing to follow their heritage, rather than write the headlines in Europe.
A lot has changed since the start of the 21st century, from tech developments including digital betting and live casinos with features like online blackjack UK variations, and the rise of new footballing nations. So let’s take a look at some footballers who chose to represent their roots, rather than try to stand out in Europe.
Riyad Mahrez
Possibly one of the most fascinating and underrated players of the modern day, Riyad Mahrez will go down in Premier League history for his involvement in the English top flight. He was born in Sarcelles in France to Algerian parents, but would live in Europe, frequently visiting the African nation. It was in 2014 when Mahrez made a name for himself, making the move to England to a club he had never heard of before, Championship side Leicester City.
In his first season in England, he received an opportunity to play for Algeria, dismissing any opportunity to play for his birth nation of France, which was a no-brainer for the Algerian winger. As he won the English second flight in his first season, he would make his debut for Algeria, signifying the beginning of something massive in Mahrez’s career. In only his second season in the Premier League, Leicester City defied all odds and won the Premier League with Riyad Mahrez at the centre of that success, earning himself a seventh-place finish in the Ballon d’Or and a move to Manchester City.
At Manchester City, Mahrez would go on to win four more Premier League titles and a Champions League, cementing his name in the history of the Premier League and African football. As of 2025, Mahrez still represents Algeria, even captaining the side, after guiding them to an Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.
Achraf Hakimi
In the modern day, Achraf Hakimi is known to be one of the most efficient right-backs in world football, competing at the highest level with French side PSG, after representing plenty of top-level clubs in his time. The Moroccan international was actually born in Madrid, Spain, and grew up in the area of Getafe, where he would begin his football journey.
His career began at Real Madrid, where he impressed the Moroccan national team, earning his first call-up in 2016, the same year he would debut for Real Madrid B. After playing with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, he would move on to Inter Milan permanently in 2020 after a two-year loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he would win a Serie A title. His move to PSG occurred in 2021, where he would share the pitch with Lionel Messi for a couple of years, and win four league titles and a Champions League.
The Spanish-born fullback’s choice to represent Morocco came from his family’s roots, but this is a choice he would not regret, making a name for himself in the country’s history of sports. In the 2022 Qatar installment of the World Cup, Hakimi would captain his side to their greatest ever finish at the competition, finishing in fourth place after defeating favourites Portugal, and narrowly being defeated by France. As of 2025, the 26-year-old continues to play at the top level and is not finished making a name for himself as a Moroccan footballing legend.
Wilfried Zaha
Sometimes known for his hotheaded behaviour on the football pitch, Wilfried Zaha is one of the most iconic Premier League players during what is often regarded as the greatest era of the league, the Barclays Premier League. Unlike the other players on this list, Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast before moving to London and beginning his football journey.
For the majority of his career, Zaha spent his time in London, playing for Crystal Palace. Despite moving to Manchester United for two years and enduring a loan spell at Cardiff City for a year, the winger spent nearly 13 years in total at Palace, becoming a legend at the club. After shining at club level, Zaha had achieved a youth team call-up from England, which he accepted. For two years, he represented the under-19s and under-21s before making his senior debut in 2012, making only two appearances.
After several relatively successful campaigns, Zaha chose to switch his national allegiance to his birthplace, the Ivory Coast, where he began his international journey in 2017. His choice was made by feeling a stronger connection to the African Nation and feeling overlooked by England. Unfortunately, Zaha’s international career hasn’t been too successful, making 33 appearances and only scoring five times. Whilst at the age of 32 in 2025, he continues to play for the nation during his loan spell in the United States, but it does not look likely that he will be able to bring silverware to his home country.
