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| Image: Paul Pogba |
Paul Pogba, the gifted World Cup-winning French midfielder, officially made his emotional return to professional football after a prolonged absence. The former Juventus and Manchester United star faced a significant setback when he was handed a four-year doping ban in 2024, which was later reduced to 18 months following an appeal. After nearly two years—811 days—of intense rehabilitation and legal battles, Pogba has re-emerged on the pitch, signing with AS Monaco on a free transfer to relaunch his illustrious career.
His competitive comeback came on Saturday, November 22, 2025, for AS Monaco in a Ligue 1 match against Rennes at the Roazhon Park stadium. Pogba entered the game in the 85th minute, replacing teammate Mamadou Coulibaly. Despite the result—a 4-1 loss—the moment was highly significant, met with a notable ovation. Following the match, the 32-year-old took to Twitter, as seen in the uploaded post, to express his profound gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support and belief, describing the night as "unforgettable."
The moment Paul Pogba returns to the pitch:
The magnitude of his return resonated across the football community, drawing praise from former teammates and international peers. Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappé, was among the first to show his support. The French international took to his Instagram story, sharing a photo of Pogba in his new Monaco colors and adding a heart emoji to share his love and respect.