Nabil Bentaleb marked his return to competitive football in remarkable fashion, scoring just four minutes after coming on as Lille secured a crucial victory against Rennes.
The Algerian midfielder, who suffered a cardiac arrest in June 2024, was met with emotional celebrations from his teammates following his first goal since the life-threatening incident.
Lille captain Benjamin André reflected on Bentaleb’s extraordinary comeback, emphasizing the significance of the moment.
“There are destinies like this that are simply extraordinary—I think it was written.
He told us after the match that he felt he was going to score.
There is great emotion, and we lived through it from the inside.
He fought hard to return, something like this had never happened before in France… it’s a magnificent story,” André said.
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also shared his admiration for Bentaleb’s resilience.
“He may seem very tough and unflappable, but I think deep down, a lot of things were going through his mind.
We made sure to congratulate him, and this will do him good mentally after nine months away from the field.
This is a great chapter in Nabil’s story this year,” Chevalier said.
Bentaleb’s return adds another inspiring moment to Lille’s season, as the club continues to build on its strong campaign with memorable performances both on and off the pitch.
