Nabil Bentaleb (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Eight months after suffering a cardiac arrest, Nabil Bentaleb made his emotional return to football—scoring just four minutes into his first game back for Lille.
French football witnessed a remarkable comeback story over the weekend, as Nabil Bentaleb made his first competitive appearance since suffering a cardiac arrest in June 2024—and marked the occasion with a goal just four minutes after coming on.
The 30-year-old Algerian midfielder entered the match between Rennes and Lille, quickly making an impact as he fired his team into the lead (1-0) in what can only be described as a fairytale moment.
A life-threatening scare and an unforgettable comeback
Bentaleb’s career and life were at serious risk last summer when he collapsed due to a cardiac arrest. Facing an uncertain future, the midfielder underwent a lengthy recovery process before receiving medical clearance from the French Football Federation (FFF) to return to professional play.
Lille manager Bruno Génésio was emotional about the moment, calling it a historic milestone for the club.
"This is a story fit for a movie. He absolutely deserved that goal. It’s an incredible and beautiful moment. Nabil’s goal sent us to seventh heaven—it’s hard to put into words. This will forever be part of the club’s history," said Génésio.
From academy prodigy to football journeyman
Bentaleb started his footballing journey at Lille’s youth academy, but at 15 years old, he moved to Belgium with Mouscron to continue his development. His professional debut came with Tottenham, and he later played for Schalke, Newcastle, and Angers before making an emotional return to his boyhood club Lille.