Paul Pogba returns after 811 days: “football isn’t over for me”
For the first time in 811 days, Paul Pogba stepped back onto the pitch, marking a powerful moment in his turbulent career. The French midfielder came on in the 85th minute for AS Monaco against Rennes, replacing Mamadou Coulibaly, and afterward declared:
“Football isn’t over for me.”
It was Pogba’s first competitive appearance since September 3, 2023, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A win over Empoli. His comeback follows an 18-month suspension (reduced from an initial four-year doping ban) and a series of injuries that derailed his second spell in Turin after leaving Manchester United.
Emotional Reception Despite Defeat
Monaco fell 4-1 to Rennes, with Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo, and Ludovic Blas scoring before Mika Biereth netted a late consolation. Yet the night belonged to Pogba, who was visibly moved as away fans rose to applaud his return.
“Seeing the crowd stand up and applaud, I didn’t imagine that. Thank you to all the fans who supported me,” Pogba said.
“I wanted to bring good energy; it’s been so long. I’m relieved to have returned to football, which I love more than anything in the world. But there is still work to be done to get back in full shape and play 90 minutes.”
Rare Milestone
- Pogba becomes only the fifth player this century to make a Ligue 1 debut after already representing France.
- He is the first ever to do so with more than 50 caps.
- He joins a select group as just the third World Cup winner to debut in the French top flight after lifting the trophy.
Looking Ahead
While speculation has already begun about a possible France recall and the 2026 World Cup, Pogba downplayed such talk:
“That is very far away. I’m thinking about getting back in shape to help the team. If I don’t perform for Monaco, the France team… I will have to forget about it.”
His return marks a significant milestone in a career defined by brilliance, setbacks, and resilience. For Pogba, the fight to regain top form has only just begun.
Excerpts of his monumental return back to football are shown below in a short video:
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