[2] He was featured on the national team many times and is remembered for competing in various Gulf Cup competitions.
He became a regular of the national team at a young age and was almost even called up for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, but he was thought to be to inexperienced by then-coach, Evaristo de Macedo.
Habib first appeared in the national team in 1988, playing in the Arab Championship, Olympics in Seoul and the Gulf Cup, where he was voted as player of the tournament.
[4] However, in their penultimate match against Iran, he was sent off receiving a red card, and did not participate in their next and last game against Japan.
Habib was placed by the German-based Federation of Football History & Statistics as Iraq's 3rd best player of the century.