In a highly anticipated comeback, Paul Pogba returned to competitive football on Saturday, marking his first appearance in over two years. The 32-year-old midfielder came on as a late substitute for Monaco in their 4-1 loss to Rennes. Pogba’s career has been marred by injuries, a doping suspension, and an extortion case in which he was the victim. Despite these challenges, he expressed gratitude for his return, stating, ‘Football isn’t over for me. We’ve worked hard, we’ve waited more than two years to get back, and today it finally happened. Thank God.’
Pogba received a warm ovation from the crowd at Roazhon Park when he entered the pitch in the 85th minute and again after the final whistle. ‘It really touched me to see the crowd stand and applaud. I honestly didn’t expect that, so a huge thank you to all the fans who were there today and supported me,’ he said. Pogba’s return comes after a tumultuous period that included a four-year doping ban, later reduced to 18 months, and the termination of his contract with Juventus in November 2023.
Monaco took a gamble on Pogba following the conclusion of his suspension in March, and coach Sebastien Pocognoli chose to bring him on despite the team’s dire situation, trailing by four goals and down to 10 men. Rennes dominated the match with goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo, and Ludovic Blas, while Monaco’s lone goal came from Mika Biereth after Pogba’s introduction.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) maintained their lead in Ligue 1 with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Le Havre. Goals from Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves, and Bradley Barcola secured the win, allowing PSG to reclaim their two-point cushion at the top of the table. Earlier on Saturday, Marseille and Lens had temporarily overtaken PSG, with Lens edging Strasbourg 1-0 thanks to Ismaelo Ganiou’s second-half winner. Marseille, however, dominated Nice with a 5-1 victory on Friday, with Mason Greenwood scoring twice to become the league’s top scorer with 10 goals.
Pogba’s return marks a significant moment in his career, as he looks to regain full fitness and contribute to Monaco’s campaign. ‘I’m relieved to be back playing football, the thing I love most in the world. But there’s still work to do to get back to full fitness, play 90 minutes, and help the team as much as possible,’ he added.