An internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder having a cylinder barrel that forms a guide for a piston associated with the cylinder. The cylinder barrel is only partially formed by a cylinder wall of a crankcase or of a cylinder liner fastened to the crankcase. The cylinder barrel, in a central region as seen in the cylinder axial direction, is formed by the cylinder wall. The cylinder wall, in an upper region of the cylinder barrel adjoining the central region and/or in a lower region adjoining the central region, has an encompassing recess into which is inserted a one-piece or multi-piece annular sliding element, the radially inner wall of which forms a part of the cylinder barrel.