Nabil Bentaleb made a stunning return to football, scoring just four minutes after stepping onto the pitch to help Lille secure a 2-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday.
This marked his first competitive appearance since suffering a heart attack last June, a comeback that has captivated fans and the football community. With the win, Lille reclaimed fifth place in Ligue 1, overtaking Lyon, who had briefly moved ahead after a commanding 4-1 victory at Montpellier earlier in the day.
The 30-year-old Algerian international midfielder was fitted with a defibrillator following his cardiac arrest and was only cleared to play by the French Football Federation days before his return. His journey back to the pitch has been described as nothing short of extraordinary.
Bentaleb’s impact was immediate. His goal came moments after Rennes was reduced to 10 men, following Christopher Wooh’s 76th-minute red card. Lille had already been pressing relentlessly, with Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba earlier denying Chuba Akpom from the penalty spot.
Seizing the moment, Bentaleb capitalized on a rebound from a Samba save to open the scoring. Overcome with emotion, he sprinted toward the sideline, pointing to the coaching staff before leaping into their arms in celebration. Akpom then added a second goal six minutes later, sealing Lille’s crucial win.
Lille manager Bruno Genesio hailed Bentaleb’s return as “worthy of a film,” emphasizing the midfielder’s determination. “He deserved it because I don’t believe in luck. He believed in himself, and this story will remain engraved in our minds and the history of this club,” Genesio said.
Bentaleb’s journey back was anything but easy. Following his heart attack, Lille confirmed that he had been hospitalized and fitted with a pacemaker. While many expected him to retire, he instead drew inspiration from players like Christian Eriksen, who made similar comebacks and defied expectations to return to elite football.
Genesio acknowledged the doubts surrounding Bentaleb’s recovery. “There were moments when we wondered if he would ever play again, but as time passed, we gained more confidence in his ability,” he said. “This is a victory not just for Nabil, but for everyone who supported him.”
Other Ligue 1 Results
Elsewhere, Nice climbed back into the top three with a 3-1 victory at Le Havre, aided by goals from Gaetan Laborde, an Etienne Youte Kinkoue own goal, and a late strike from Sofiane Diop.
Lyon avenged an earlier season defeat with a dominant 4-1 win over Montpellier, while Strasbourg moved up to seventh after a 2-0 triumph against Lens. Paris Saint-Germain remained 10 points clear at the top after a narrow 1-0 victory over Toulouse.
With Lyon set to face PSG next, manager Paulo Fonseca expressed confidence in his squad’s progress, eyeing a challenge against the league leaders.
