Paul Pogba has finally stepped back onto a football pitch after more than two years away from the game, ending a long period defined by a doping ban, legal drama and repeated injury setbacks.
The French midfielder made a brief nine-minute appearance for Monaco at Roazhon Park, bringing his long absence to a symbolic end. Since his last match for Juventus in September 2023, Pogba has remained in the spotlight despite not playing, following a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to 18 months, his release from Juventus, and a high-profile extortion and kidnapping case that resulted in his brother being sentenced to prison.
Pogba signed a two-year deal with Monaco in the summer but was delayed by a required fitness programme and a series of minor injuries. His return had been postponed several times before he finally came off the bench in Monaco’s 4–1 loss to Rennes.
While the short cameo offered few definitive answers about his current level, there were flashes of the familiar elegance and confidence that once defined his game. After the match, Pogba said: “There is a good God. I believe in myself and my qualities.”
Monaco, now struggling in Ligue 1 after dropping to eighth, are increasingly looking to Pogba as a figure who can lift the team’s fortunes. The pressure and expectations surrounding him remain high, despite arriving on a free transfer.
At 31, Pogba has also set his sights on a return to the France national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, though he admitted he still has a long way to go. For now, his return to the pitch marks a new chapter after one of the most turbulent periods of his career.
