Back in the Game: Pogba’s 26-Month Comeback with Monaco Sparks a New Chapter
23 November 2025
Return to action after a lengthy layoff
Paul Pogba, the veteran France international, finally returned to action with Monaco after a 26‑month absence.
His comeback came in Ligue 1, in a match that reminded fans of his World Cup glory days but also of the long road back.
The Frenchman last played for Juventus on September 3, 2023, in a win over Empoli, before a doping ban that was subsequently reduced to 18 months on appeal.
In March 2024 Juventus terminated his contract, and Pogba, who had earned more than 90 caps for France and helped lift the 2018 World Cup, began plotting a fresh start.
This past summer, after rumors linking him with moves to the United States and the Gulf, he signed a two-year deal with Monaco, a new dawn for a player who has faced both triumphs and setbacks.
Monaco officials described the transfer as a milestone, with the 32-year-old hoping to rediscover his best form in a league known for its pace and intensity.
A planned October appearance against Angers was shelved by an injury, but Pogba finally returned on November 22, 2025, entering as an 85th-minute substitute as Monaco faced Rennes away.
Rennes opened the scoring through Abdelhamid Aït Bodlal in the 20th minute and added three more from Mehdi Camara (48), Breel Embolo (73), and Ludovic Blas (83) in the second half.
Denis Zakaria was sent off in the 66th minute, while Mika Biereth struck a late goal to narrow the score to 4–1.
Pogba, who came on for Mamadou Coulibaly in the 85th minute, celebrated with a quiet on-field gesture as Monaco absorbed another setback in a campaign that has had its share of twists.
Monaco sit eighth as Rennes move to fifth, with the Ligue 1 table shaping up around Marseille and Paris Saint‑Germain at the top.
Pogba’s return follows a three-month training regimen designed to restore his fitness after a doping ban that had been reduced to 18 months on appeal.
Monaco coach emphasized that Pogba will be evaluated on his current form rather than his yesteryears with Manchester United or Juventus.
“We must assess Pogba based on where he is now,” the coach said, highlighting that players evolve with time and different experiences, and it’s crucial to see what he can offer at this stage of his career.
As the season unfolds, the veteran midfielder hopes to demonstrate he can still influence games in Ligue 1 and possibly in Europe.
With Pogba back, Monaco’s path remains uncertain, but the broader storyline—an elite talent returning after a long layoff—still captures the imagination of fans.
Focus now shifts to the next fixture, and whether Pogba can recapture the spark that once helped France lift the World Cup.
In short, Pogba’s comeback is less about a single match and more about a long arc back to top‑level football, with his next steps crucial for Monaco’s ambitions in France and Europe.
Punchline time: If Pogba can stage this comeback after 26 months, maybe my gym membership will finally return from its hiatus too. And if his career can rebound this strongly, perhaps my jokes can finally stop stalling at the punchline—watch this space for a sequel of the comeback tour!
