It’s anticipated that Paul Pogba will resume his professional soccer career after a hiatus of two years. He previously faced a four-year suspension related to doping, which was subsequently reduced to 18 months following an appeal. This adjustment allowed him to potentially return to the field from March 2025.
Now at 32 years old, Pogba is scheduled to be part of AS Monaco’s team roster for their upcoming match against Rennes on Saturday. Insiders shared with ESPN on Thursday that the current strategy involves allowing him to participate for a short period during the game.
Considering his last appearance in a match occurred on Sept. 3, 2023, while playing for Juventus against Empoli, one might wonder what the former holder of the world-record transfer fee and champion of the 2018 World Cup has been engaged in during recent times.
ESPN provides an overview of the events that led to this point.
Aug. 8, 2016: The Return of Pogba!
Following his departure from Manchester United under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson to join Juventus in 2012, where he achieved four consecutive Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia victories, Pogba rejoined United for a record-breaking fee of £89.3 million.
Paul Pogba. 🙌 #POGBACK pic.twitter.com/NhHjhWx5XT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2016
He debuted in a 2-0 victory against Southampton and secured the Europa League and Carabao Cup titles during his initial season. However, disagreements with then-United manager Jose Mourinho arose, and he encountered challenges in maintaining consistency under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
June 1, 2022: Departure as a Free Agent
United declared that Pogba would be leaving the club without a transfer fee once his contract concluded.
“It marked a subtle conclusion to a career with United that featured numerous remarkable individual moments,” the club stated. “Including an abundance of impressive goals, assists, and demonstrations of skill. For a young player who joined the academy at 16 and went on to make over 200 appearances for United, lifting the Youth Cup alongside two significant trophies, deserves recognition and appreciation.”
In the meantime, Pogba shared a message on social media stating: “I feel fortunate to have represented this club. I experienced countless memorable and beautiful moments, but most importantly, received unwavering support from the fans. I extend my gratitude to Man Utd.”
July 11, 2022: Second Stint with Juventus
Pogba opted to return to Italy and once again became a player for his former team, Juventus.
#PogbackToBack ⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ROHDIr2BSs
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) July 11, 2022
“Paul is making his way back to Turin,” Juventus announced. “He left as a young individual but is now returning as a seasoned professional and champion. However, his desire to contribute to creating memorable moments in the club’s history remains unchanged. Pogba’s return fills us with immense joy.”
However, he quickly faced challenges due to injuries and experienced conflicts with manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Sept. 14, 2022: Brother’s Arrest in Extortion Case
Mathias Pogba, along with five others, was taken into custody and subsequently charged by French authorities in relation to an alleged organized armed extortion attempt targeting the Juventus midfielder.
French prosecutors launched an investigation into claims that Pogba was being extorted by his older brother and childhood acquaintances, who reportedly demanded €13 million (nearly $13 million) from the former Manchester United player.
Mathias had previously played for teams such as Partick Thistle, Wrexham, Crewe Alexandra, and Crawley Town.
Oct. 31, 2022: Exclusion from World Cup
It was revealed that Pogba would not be participating in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar because he had not fully recovered from knee surgery.
Pogba underwent surgery in September, but his agent stated that, following a medical assessment, the midfielder would not be ready to rejoin the Juventus team or be part of the French squad for the World Cup, scheduled from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18.
“After medical evaluations conducted in Torino and Pittsburgh yesterday and today, it is with great regret that we must inform you that Paul Pogba still requires time to recover from his surgery,” agent Rafaela Pimenta mentioned. “Therefore, Paul will not be able to be a member of the Juventus team before the World Cup break, nor will he join the French national team in Qatar. If wishing could change circumstances, Paul would be playing tomorrow.”
Sept. 11, 2023: Positive Test for DHEA
The anti-doping agency in Italy announced that Pogba had tested positive for DHEA, a prohibited substance that elevates testosterone levels, following Juventus’ match against Udinese on Aug. 20. His backup B sample also showed a positive result for testosterone on Oct. 6, indicating that the midfielder would be subject to a doping investigation.
“In response to the request presented by the National Anti-doping Prosecutor, a provisional suspension has been issued for athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” Nado Italia, the anti-doping agency, stated.
The tribunal stated that Pogba had breached anti-doping regulations when it detected the prohibited substance “non-endogenous testosterone metabolites,” emphasizing that the findings were “consistent with the external origin of the targeted substances.”
Juventus released a statement acknowledging the positive result and suspension, noting that they would “assess the next procedural actions.”
“We are awaiting the results of the counter-analysis and are unable to comment further at this time,” Pimenta stated in a statement reported by Italian media. “The only certainty is that Paul Pogba never intended to contravene the regulations.”
Pogba later asserted that it was an error, explaining that he had consumed certain food supplements without realizing they contained a prohibited substance.
Feb. 29, 2024: Imposition of a Four-Year Suspension
Anti-doping prosecutors in Italy had sought a maximum four-year suspension, and they officially announced the full penalty in February.
Pogba chose not to engage in a plea agreement with Italy’s anti-doping agency, leading to the case being heard before the country’s anti-doping court. However, in a statement, he confirmed his intention to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asserting that he had never used prohibited substances.
“I was informed today of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s ruling and I am convinced that the verdict is incorrect,” he stated. “I am deeply saddened, shocked, and disheartened that everything I have accomplished in my professional career has been taken from me.”
Allegri stated during a news conference that he had been in contact with Pogba, who was still under contract with the Turin club until June 2026.
“I sent him a message two days ago,” Allegri commented. “On a personal level, I feel deeply sorry, and also from a sporting perspective. The sport is losing a remarkable player who is difficult to find, and I had the pleasure of coaching him. Furthermore, Paul is also a very kind individual.”
May 5, 2024: Appearance in a Movie
Pogba utilized his time away from the field to act in a French film called “4 Zéros” (a sequel to “3 Zéros,” which was released in 2002). He filmed scenes in Paris, as sources confirmed to ESPN.
According to the French publication Le Parisien, which initially reported on Pogba’s involvement in the film, the 31-year-old portrayed a youth team football coach.
Oct. 4, 2024: Reduction of Suspension to 18 Months
The Court of Arbitration for Sport lowered Pogba’s suspension to 18 months following an appeal. This meant he would be eligible to resume playing competitive football in March 2025.
CAS judges reduced Pogba’s suspension, acknowledging a lack of intention and stating that his positive test was the result of mistakenly taking a supplement recommended to him by a medical doctor in Florida.
Pogba expressed his satisfaction with the decision in a statement.
“Finally, the ordeal is over,” he mentioned. “Following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision, I am able to look forward to the day when I can pursue my dreams again. I have consistently stated that I never intentionally violated World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I consumed a nutritional supplement provided to me by a doctor, which does not impact or enhance the performance of male athletes.”
The player then informed ESPN following the CAS ruling that he had contemplated retirement immediately after receiving the initial four-year punishment.
Nov. 30, 2024: Mutual Termination of Contract Between Juventus and Pogba
Having last played for Juventus against Empoli on Sept. 3, 2023, the Serie A club confirmed the mutual termination of his contract.
“The club extends its best wishes to Paul for his future professional endeavors,” the Turin side stated.
Pogba added: “My time with Juventus has come to an end. It has been an honor to wear the Bianconeri jersey and share numerous special moments together.
“I hold dear the memories we created. They will endure. Even during the most challenging periods over the past year, your support was invaluable, and I want to express my gratitude to Juve fans around the world for their compassion. It has been a pleasure to have experienced so many wonderful moments with my teammates over the years, and I wish them all the best in the future. I am eagerly anticipating the next phase of my career and the opportunity to step onto the field with my future club.”
Dec. 19, 2024: Mathias Pogba Receives a Three-Year Prison Sentence
Mathias Pogba was sentenced by a Paris criminal court to three years in prison, with two years suspended, “for the offenses of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy.”
He was also fined €20,000 but avoided immediate imprisonment, although he had to spend one year under electronic monitoring.
2:02
Laurens ‘so happy’ to see Pogba sign for Monaco
Julien Laurens and Stewart Robson discuss Paul Pogba signing for Monaco, having not played football competitively since September 2023.
June 28, 2025: Agreement with Monaco
After leaving Le Havre for Manchester United at just 16 years of age, Pogba had not previously participated in France’s Ligue 1. However, he decided to join AS Monaco as a free agent.
A source informed ESPN that Pogba, who has agreed to a two-year contract, declined a substantial offer from a Saudi Pro League team.
Nov. 11, 2025: Selection for Monaco’s Team
Pogba was initially slated to debut against Angers on Oct. 18, but he encountered a minor ankle injury during training, preventing him from participating.
According to sources, the club implemented a comprehensive fitness rehabilitation program to help him regain his fitness and prevent future injuries once he began playing regularly. This involved gathering extensive biochemical data, postural analyses, mental assessments, athletic measurements, mobility tests, cognitive evaluations, and fitness tests, among other things.
Subsequently, he was chosen for the team to compete against Rennes.
