Paul Pogba (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Paul Pogba made an emotional comeback after 811 days out, debuting for Monaco following his doping suspension — as the French star begins his road to redemption and dreams of another World Cup.
Paul Pogba is finally back doing what he loves most — playing football. After nearly three years away from the pitch, the French midfielder made his long-awaited return, stepping onto the field for AS Monaco and ending an agonising 811-day absence.
Pogba entered as a second-half substitute in Monaco’s 4-1 defeat to Rennes, with the home side already 4-0 ahead and Denis Zakaria sent off in the 66th minute. Despite the heavy loss, it was a night of celebration for Pogba, who received thunderous applause from Rennes supporters and congratulations from opposing players as he made his comeback.
It marked the first time the 31-year-old had played since his doping suspension in 2023, a saga that sidelined one of the game’s most gifted midfielders and left doubts about whether he would ever return to professional football.
“This is what I dreamed of for months,” Pogba reportedly told close friends after the game. “It feels like starting football all over again.”
The former Juventus and Manchester United star joined Monaco earlier this season in a bid to restart his career and regain match sharpness. His immediate goal is to regain full fitness and rediscover the form that once made him one of the most dynamic midfielders in world football.
Beyond club football, Pogba still holds a burning ambition — to represent France at the 2026 World Cup. National team coach Didier Deschamps has admitted that France lack depth in midfield, meaning a strong second half of the season could open the door for Pogba’s return to the international stage.
Next up for Monaco is a Champions League trip to Paphos on Wednesday, followed by a crucial Ligue 1 clash at home against Paris Saint-Germain. For Pogba, though, the real victory has already come — stepping back onto the pitch after a journey that tested his resilience more than ever before.