It’s unlikely that anyone would have predicted the kind of career Karim Boudiaf would have in Qatar, when he arrived to sign for Lekhwiya (now Al-Duhail) just shy of his 20th birthday way back in 2010. The young midfielder was from a different world, having come through the French football system, and joined Djamel Belmadi in attempting to create a dynasty at Lekhwiya.

That’s exactly what happened. Out of all the cogs in Belmadi’s machine, Boudiaf was undoubtedly the vital enduring link which kept things together in the years to come, as the club smashed records and won everything there is to win in Qatari football. After being naturalised, he quickly established himself in the centre of the pitch for Al-Annabi, and his calm presence came to be greatly valued, especially in the 2019 Asian Cup triumph.

After the 2022 World Cup, it looked like Boudiaf’s international career was over. He missed the 2023 continental title defence, but just as we prepared to close that chapter, Lopetegui recalled him, in his attempt to prop up the squad with much-needed experience. After featuring in the two final qualifying games against Oman and the UAE, the 36-year-old Boudiaf has now secured the ticket to North America as well.