The invention relates to an operating lever for a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, whereby said lever at the end situated on the valve side has a sliding shoe located between itself and a valve stem end of a gas exchange valve. The operating lever is characterized in that it is configured as a piece of sheet metal worked without cutting, which in the area (2) situated on the side of the valve has a lower wall (12) linked to two side walls (5, 6) in such a way that they form a U shape open at the top. Said lower wall (12) has a recess (13) that is open at the bottom and designed to accommodate the sliding shoe (14), which is held inside the recess (13) in such a way that it cannot slip out. The dimensions of the sliding shoe (14) and recess (13) are matched in such a way that the sliding shoe (14) can freely swivel within the cavity (13) in relation to the displacement of the valve stem (11).