The former Juventus and France star midfielder returned to football and played against Monaco in his first game in more than two years after being banned from drugs.
Published November 23, 2025
Paul Pogba described his emotional Monaco debut as a moment of relief and gratitude on Saturday after the French midfielder returned to the pitch for the first time in more than two years after serving a doping suspension.
The former Juventus and Manchester United player joined the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer in June but has not featured in a competitive game since September 2023.
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Pogba was suspended for four years in February 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA, which increases testosterone levels. On appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the suspension was reduced to 18 months.
The 32-year-old, who was close to making a comeback last month before injuring his right ankle, came on in the 85th minute of Monaco’s 4-1 defeat to Rennes at Roazon Park and was greeted with a standing ovation.
“When I saw the crowd standing up and applauding, I never imagined something like this would happen,” Pogba told reporters. “I’m relieved to be able to play soccer again, my favorite game in the world.
“But I still have work to do to get back to full fitness and be able to play 90 minutes…If I don’t perform well in Monaco, I might forget about the French national team.
“I believe in myself and my qualities, and I never lost hope because I knew I had done nothing wrong and it was not my fault.”
Pogba played 91 games for France and helped his country win the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Due to knee and hamstring injuries and knee surgery, he was unable to play for France at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
