Nabil Bentaleb #19

Profile

Twelve years after his last World Cup appearance, Bentaleb's career has come full circle. In 2014, the then 19-year-old midfielder was a regular starter for Tottenham and had just impressed at the World Cup, with a seemingly bright future ahead of him. However, recurring disciplinary issues disrupted several spells at clubs from Spurs to Schalke, and he even found himself without a team during the 2020-21 season. Bentaleb gradually rebuilt his career in France, returning to his hometown club, Lille, where his football journey began. His greatest challenge in life came in June 2024 when he suffered a heart attack during training. After consulting with his former teammate Christian Eriksen and receiving a pacemaker, he fought his way back into the Lille side, became captain, and produced one of the best seasons of his career. "He never let go. He believed in himself, and he believed in the people who looked after him," said Lille coach Bruno Genesio.

Key stats