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Rabah Mustapha Madjer (; born 15 December 1958) is an Algerian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
He reached stardom as a FC Porto player during the 1980s, being widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time. African legends: Rabah Madjer; BBC Sport, 1 September 2003 Rabah Madjer; UEFA, 16 January 2003 In his six-year spell with that club, he won nine major titles, including three Primeira Liga and the 1987 European Cup.
One of the most prolific Algeria internationals in number of games and goals, Madjer played in two World Cups with his national team, helping it to its first ever participation in 1982. Having taken up coaching immediately after retiring, he managed several clubs, and also had several spells with the Algeria national team.
Madjer arrived at FC Porto in 1985–86 and, the following campaign, entered the club's history books in the final of the European Cup against Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese, and also setting up the winner of Juary. Madjer calls on Porto to do it again; UEFA, 2 April 2009 Pelé is believed to have said of this goal: "It would have been the greatest goal I have ever seen, if he had not looked back at it." He also netted in the club's Intercontinental Cup conquest the same year. Intercontinental Club Cup 1987; at RSSSF
After that stellar 1987, Madjer won the Ballon d'or Africain, African Player of the Year 1987; at RSSSF but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region. In the first part of 1987–88 he scored ten times from only 11 appearances. In the summer 1988 he moved to Inter Milan but the medical exams detected a serious thigh muscle injury that the player had in the past and the contract was never officially signed (despite the initial announcement and the official photos already taken).
After being close to transferring to Bayern Munich, Madjer signed for La Liga's Valencia CF in January 1988, returning to his previous team after only a few months for a further three seasons. Johan Cruyff had also attempted to sign Madjer for AFC Ajax at the time the clubs met in the 1987 European Super Cup. Cruyff was unhappy with his own club's board, believing that they leaked details of the transfer which caused Porto to pull out of the deal.
Madjer retired from the game in 1992 at the age of nearly 34, after a brief stint with Qatar SC.
Madjer's most famous goal came in Algeria's 2–1 win over Germany in the 1982 World Cup, when he opened the scoring in the 53rd minute.
He subsequently managed Qatari clubs Al Sadd SC (1997–1998) and Al-Wakrah Sport Club (1998–1999).
After a quick spell with the Algeria national team in 1999, Madjer returned two years later, only to resign with aggravation in the 2002 summer.
In 2005 he was appointed coach of Qatari club Al Rayyan SC.
He controversially returned to the post of Algeria national team coach in October 2017, his first managerial work for over a decade, after Lucas Alcaraz failed to take the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The following June he was dismissed, having won twice in seven games of which six were friendlies.
After his coaching spells, Madjer started a career as a professional analyst in Qatar, for Al-Jazeera Sports (beIN Sports now).
In 2011 he became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||
| Hussein Dey | 1978–79 | National 1 | ||
| 1979–80 | ||||
| 1980–81 | ||||
| 1981–82 | ||||
| 1982–83 | ||||
| Racing Paris | 1983–84 | Ligue 2 | 20 | |
| 1984–85 | French Division 1 | 5 | ||
| Tours FC (loan) | 1984–85 | French Division 1 | ||
| FC Porto | 1985–86 | Primeira Liga | 13 | |
| 1986–87 | 14 | |||
| 1987–88 | 15 | |||
| 1988–89 | 10 | |||
| 1989–90 | 16 | |||
| 1990–91 | 5 | |||
| Valencia CF (loan) | 1987–88 | La Liga | 4 | |
| Qatar SC | 1991–92 | Qatar Stars League | 6 | |
| + List of international goals scored by Rabah Madjer Mustapha Rabah Madjer – International Appearances; at RSSSF |
| 1982 World Cup qualification |
| 1980 Summer Olympics |
| 1982 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4–0 |
| 1982 World Cup qualification |
| 1982 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2–0 |
| 1982 World Cup qualification |
| Friendly |
| Friendly |
| 1982 FIFA World Cup |
| 1984 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 6–0 |
| 1984 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| Friendly |
| 1984 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 1984 African Cup of Nations |
| 1986 World Cup qualification |
| 1986 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 1986 World Cup qualification |
| 1986 World Cup qualification |
| 1986 African Cup of Nations |
| 1988 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 1990 World Cup qualification |
| 1990 World Cup qualification |
| 1990 World Cup qualification |
| 1990 African Cup of Nations |
| 2–0 |
Porto
International
Individual
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