15 Greatest Algeria Players In Football History [Ranked]

Algeria are well renowned for tournament football, be it World Cup appearances or AFCON most notably, and famed for a remarkable 2-1 victory over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup.

Whilst not considered one of the major forces in world football, Algeria has been responsible for creating considerable talent over many years, talent that has gone on to grace the biggest leagues and competitions at various clubs across Europe.

Premier League enthusiasts will already be aware of a handful of names. However, many more have landed in European football and made a real name for themselves and the reputation of Algerian football.

With that in mind, here are the 15 greatest players in Algerian football history.

It's quite rare to see an Algerian player make his professional debut in England, but Nabil Bentaleb did. During his breakthrough years at Tottenham, he was thrust into the first team as a teenager and displayed a level of composure, passing range and maturity that wasn't usually seen in players his age. His minutes at Spurs began to dwindle as the club grew, meaning he was replaced by far more well-established players. A £15 million move to Schalke followed, where he played for five seasons. He was then off to France with Angers, before he settled with Lille.

Internationally, Bentaleb was part of Algeria's squad at the 2014 World Cup as one of its youngest members. Injuries would go on to disrupt the consistency his early promise suggested, and a cardiac arrest all but ended his career in 2024. After eight months of recovery, he made his return in 2025 and remains a regular feature Lille and Algeria's midfield, picking up over 60 caps for his country.

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Versatility has been the calling card of Ramy Bensebaini's career. Equally comfortable at centre-back or left-back, his versatility has made him an increasingly valuable figure wherever he's played. After developing in Belgium and France, he made his name in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach before earning a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he started the Champions League final.

His physical strength, aerial presence and composure on the ball have continued to stand out, but he also chips in with his fair share of goals, scoring over 40 for club and country. As an international, Bensebaini has been a defensive mainstay since 2017, playing a key role in the side that won the 2019 AFCON.

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Sofiane Feghouli, much like many of the Algerians who graced Europe's top five leagues, had natural flair with good end product. He had a lengthy career in Europe, breaking through at Valencia and being a regular starter, but never got going for West Ham. A move to Galatasaray followed, where he found further success over five seasons, winning the league twice and being voted the league's best player in 2019.

For Algeria, he was central to the nation's rise during the early part of the decade, helping them reach the 2014 World Cup and later lifting the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

At his very best, Yacine Brahimi was box-office. Blessed with exceptional close control and the ability to glide past defenders as though they weren't there. Playing as a wide forward who was equally dangerous cutting inside, Brahimi's flair made him a nightmare to handle in one-on-one situations.

After coming through in France, he rose to prominence with Granada in La Liga before reaching his peak years at Porto, where he delivered consistently in domestic competitions as well as the Champions League. Leicester City fans will remember him well after his cheeky back-heel finish. He was a key attacking outlet for Algeria during the 2014 World Cup and beyond, and while his form could be unpredictable at times, the moments of brilliance he produced left a lasting impression, with him still involved with Algeria despite being well into his thirties.

Combining intelligence in possession with a never-ending battery, Ismael Bannacer has developed into one of the most technically refined midfielders African football has produced in recent years. After starting out in France and a brief, underwhelming stint at Arsenal, his career truly took off in Italy with Empoli, where his performances earned a move to AC Milan.

There, he became central to a rebuilding side, helping the Rossoneri return to Champions League contention and lift the Serie A title in 2022. On the international stage, he was Algeria's standout performer during their triumphant 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, walking away with the Player of the Tournament award.

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Ali Bencheikh, lovingly known by fans as Alilou, was a midfielder who spent his entire career playing in Algeria. He, impressively, made his debut aged only 17 for MC Algar. The tireless midfielder enjoyed international recognition, being part of Algeria's 1982 World Cup. Bencheikh's career is largely overlooked when talking about top midfielders in world football and its history. However, in his homeland, he is regarded as one of the great midfielders of the Algerian game. Bencheikh managed 47 caps for his country, scoring six goals.

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Salah Assad is widely regarded in Algeria as one of the nation's greatest-ever players, upholding a legendary status among his peers and supporters. Assad was a prominent figure within the national team, seeing him named in both the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads. Salah's reputation grew with his four-year stint in France with FC Mulhouse, during which he spent a season on loan with Paris St-Germain. Sadly, very little is known in terms of his goalscoring exploits whilst playing for Algerian sides RC Kouba and JSM Cheraga, however, his European adventures and international performances have showcased exactly why he is considered one of his nation's greatest. Salah Assad enjoyed 68 Algeria caps, scoring 15 goals.

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Djamel Menad is another Algerian forward to appear on our list. Menad, was highly regarded in his homeland, and when his career took him to both France and Portugal with Nimes, Famalicao and Belenenses, respectively. It was internationally though, that Menad would receive his major accolades back home, totalling 81 appearances and 25 goals, and being a part of the Algerian 1986 World Cup squad along the way.

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Star midfielder, Hacene Lalmas, spent his entire career in Algeria, largely with CR Belouizdad. His career did start, however, with OM Ruisseau for whom he scored 14 goals in an 18-0 victory over Birtouta. His talents were soon recognised, and he moved to CR Belouizdad where he went on to build legendary status and amassed an impressive 107 goals in his 11-year association with the club. Lalmas, also fondly known as El Kebch (The Ram), enjoyed an 11-year international career, earning 43 caps and scoring 14 goals.

Rachid Mekhloufi is recognised as one of Algeria's greatest strikers. Born in French Algeria, Mekhloufi began his career in France with Saint-Etienne, where he made a name for himself and gained international recognition, earning four Caps for the French National team. A season with Servette was followed by a return to Saint-Etienne, where he further cemented his legendary status at the club. Despite earning four caps for France, in 1958, several French-based players fled to play for FLN. He then became an Algerian international in 1963. Domestically, Mekhloufi would spend his final two years at Bastia, appearing 67 times and scoring 20 goals.