Can Paul Pogba revive career and World Cup dream after two year absence?

MV: €100m to €5m 

September 2023. That was the last time Paul Pogba played a professional football game but he's poised to make his return this weekend. Pogba is expected to be in the Monaco squad for their Ligue clash against Rennes. The 32-year-old joined the principality club in the summer but he required time to gain full match fitness before a slight ankle injury to delay his return for his lengthy ban. After playing for Juventus against Empoli in September 2023, Pogba was suspended for failing a drug test in August and the former France international was originally banned for four-years in February 2024.

The ban, however, was reduced to 18 months at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and he was permitted to train from January, with his ban lifted in March. Juventus and Pogba agreed to a mutual termination last November and despite links to Saudi Arabia and the MLS, he joined Monaco in the summer. The midfielder has agreed a two-year deal with the French club but will he return anywhere near his best after almost two years out?

Paul Pogba: Will his return prove successful?

It’s almost impossible to determine how long Pogba will require to reach full match fitness after so long without playing. At his best, Pogba was one of the leading midfielders in the world but his return to Juventus was severely impacted by injuries before his ban. As the graphic below illustrates, the midfielder played just 12 games in just over a year after returning from Manchester United and missed 57 games through injury. The ankle injury sustained at Monaco will be a slight concern and how his body will hold up to a return to action will be paramount to his prospects.

But Pogba will aim to revive his career when he joins Monaco and he will feature in the Champions League after the principality finished third last season. The midfielder will play in Ligue 1 for the first time in his career and join a talented array of youngsters at Monaco but will Pogba enjoy a successful return? “There are two schools of thought: the curious and the believers. The former are eager to see what he can do, thinking that he will never regain his true form after more than two years without playing. The latter believe, or rather hope, that he could become the formidable player he once was and perhaps return to the French national team one. In any case, his return is eagerly awaited. Especially since the deadlines have changed in recent weeks, as announcements have been made, causing impatience."

Can Paul Pogba secure France return for the World Cup?

Although it may appear unrealistic at this stage, Pogba will be motivated by securing a return to the France squad for the World Cup next summer and Durand believes it’s possible. He said: “As far as a return to the French national team is concerned, I think he has the cards in his hand. In theory, Didier Deschamps holds him in very high regard. He undoubtedly knows that a player like him is rare, both on and off the pitch. In practice, Deschamps has shown that he will not give up on his soldiers, as shown by Kanté's return for Euro 2024. And Monaco are playing in the Champions League, which is important to Deschamps. He considers it to be the competition that comes closest to international level. So if Pogba performs well, he'll be back.”