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Mahrez was not born into the limelight. Growing up in Paris, he spent his early days playing pickup matches, taking the sport casually. His first official team experience came at the age of 12 with a small amateur club, Sarel. Despite his raw talent, it wasn't until the tragic passing of his father that Mahrez began to fully commit to football, vowing to make his father proud.
At 16, Mahrez began to catch the attention of scouts. He was picked up by the Scottish club, St. Mirren, but the experience was far from what he had hoped for. He struggled to fit in, eventually returning to France, where his persistence finally bore fruit. After a long search for opportunities and even trials with various clubs, Mahrez found a home with Quimper Kerfeunteun, a small amateur side.