The Algerian international Nabil Bentaleb holds on to his dream of returning to the Algerian national team and participating in the 2026 World Cup finals, despite his absence from the team since the match against Uganda in the World Cup qualifiers last October.

In statements reported by the French site "Le Petit Lillois," the player confirmed his desire to be included in the squad, noting that he continues to work daily to maintain his readiness, while awaiting the final decision from coach Vladimir Petković.

Ben Taleb delivered an impressive performance with Lille during the 3-0 victory over Lens in the French league, which boosts his chances of returning to the national team.

The 31-year-old player has previously participated with the "Desert Warriors" in the 2014 World Cup, as well as in several editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Bentaleb faces strong competition in the midfield, with prominent names such as Ismael Bennacer, Hicham Boudaoui, Ramiz Zerrouki, and Adam Zorgane present, making the selection decision dependent on the coaching staff's vision.