In a highly emotional moment for French football, Paul Pogba finally returned to competitive action after more than two years away from the game. The World Cup winner came on as a substitute for Monaco during their 4-1 defeat against Rennes on Saturday, while Paris Saint-Germain comfortably maintained their position at the Ligue 1 summit.
Emotional Return After Lengthy Absence
Paul Pogba made his long-awaited comeback when he entered the pitch in the 85th minute at Roazhon Park. The 32-year-old midfielder had been sidelined for over two years due to a combination of serious injuries, a doping suspension, and being the victim of an extortion case involving his own brother.
The former Manchester United star received a warm standing ovation from both home and away supporters when he replaced his teammate. After the final whistle, fans again applauded the emotional return of the 2018 World Cup champion.
"Football isn't over for me," an emotional Pogba stated after the match. "We've worked hard, we've waited more than two years to get back, and today it finally happened. Thank God."
Challenging Journey Back to Football
Pogba's career faced significant obstacles during his absence. He failed a drug test in August 2023 while playing for Juventus, resulting in a four-year ban that was later reduced to 18 months. This led to the Italian club terminating his contract in November 2024.
Adding to his personal challenges, Pogba's brother Mathias received a three-year prison sentence (with two years suspended) for his involvement in a plot to extort 13 million euros from the footballer in 2022.
Monaco took a calculated risk by signing Pogba once his suspension ended in March, carefully managing his fitness until this momentous return. Coach Sebastien Pocognoli introduced Pogba when Monaco were already trailing 4-0 and reduced to 10 men after Denis Zakaria's dismissal.
Match Analysis and League Standings
The game at Rennes saw the home team dominate from the start. Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and Mahdi Camara scored early goals before Zakaria's red card complicated matters for Monaco. Breel Embolo extended the lead and Ludovic Blas converted a penalty, though Monaco managed a consolation goal through Mika Biereth after Pogba's introduction.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain secured a straightforward 3-0 victory against Le Havre with goals from Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves, and Bradley Barcola. This result allowed Luis Enrique's team to reclaim top position with a two-point advantage.
In other Ligue 1 action, Lens narrowly defeated Strasbourg 1-0 thanks to Ismaelo Ganiou's second-half strike, while Marseille delivered an impressive 5-1 victory over Nice on Friday, with Mason Greenwood scoring twice to become the league's leading scorer with 10 goals.
Despite the personal milestone, Pogba remained focused on team objectives. "It's great... the return of Paul Pogba, but I play for Monaco – that's my team, and I hate losing," he emphasized. "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."
