French Central midfielder, Paul Pogba, had an “unforgettable” experience on a football pitch for the first time on Saturday after “two years”.
The former Manchester United midfielder has officially made his way back to professional football, playing his first competitive match for French Ligue 1 side, AS Monaco.
Pogba’s brief appearance came in a top flight encounter for Monaco against Rennes on Saturday 22 November, 2025; a clash that saw Monaco beaten 4-1.
In his message to fans on X, Pogba, who played for Italian Serie A club, Juventus, expressed gratitude to fans for their “love and belief” as he “stepped back onto the pitch after two years”.
This puts to an end a long and challenging period for Pogba, who won the FIFA World Cup 2018 with France. His disappearance from action was as a result of doping, injuries and personal problems off the pitch.
Following the match at Rennes, Pogba wrote: “Last night was unforgettable.
“Stepping back onto the pitch after two years away meant more to me than I can express. To the fans, thank you for the love, the energy, and the belief.
“To everyone who stood behind me, supported me, and pushed me through every moment of this journey, I’m deeply grateful. This debut wasn’t just mine…
“it belonged to all of you who never stopped supporting me.”
AS Monaco will play against Champions of France and Europe, Paris Saint-Germaine (PSG), in their next match on Saturday 29 November, 2025 at 17:00 (WAT).
