Pogba returns after 811 days: Watch his match highlights here

November 24, 2025 Oliver Obel

Here is a HIGHLIGHT VIDEO: Pogba’s 11-Minute Cameo vs. Rennes

A comeback shaped by setbacks

Pogba joined Monaco last summer after the Court of Arbitration for Sport cut his four-year doping ban to 19 months, according to Reuters.

The spell on the sidelines stretched even longer due to an ankle injury and a period as a free agent late in 2024. His last competitive appearance came in September 2023 for Juventus, a gap that reshaped the trajectory of a career once marked by effortless dominance.

Monaco staff had stressed in recent weeks that Pogba would be eased into the squad gradually. His introduction in the 85th minute reflected that cautious plan rather than any statement about his long-term role.

What he showed in limited minutes

Once on the field, Pogba’s influence was small in duration but noticeable in tone. A widely shared clip on X showed him spinning away from pressure before firing a diagonal ball to the opposite flank — a familiar reminder of the range that once defined his midfield game.

Another sequence came in stoppage time, when he pressed aggressively, won the ball cleanly, and nudged a clever touch down the right side to release a teammate.

AP reported that Pogba completed 14 of 15 passes — five in the attacking half — connected on one of two long balls, and finished with 17 touches. The numbers mirrored what the crowd could see: composure, vision, and a sense of timing that hadn’t completely eroded during his absence.

Signs of progress — and expected rust

There were reminders of his layoff: two turnovers and a heavy touch near midfield. Still, Monaco’s tempo steadied after he entered, and head coach Sébastien Pocognoli may soon face external pressure to increase the midfielder’s minutes as he builds match rhythm.

Supporters make their feelings clear

The stadium welcomed him with applause the moment he stepped across the touchline. Online reaction mirrored that warmth. One X user wrote that Pogba had “forgotten nothing in football,” while another posted: “Man still got it. Class is permanent.” A third viewer said he grew emotional watching Pogba’s first touches.

One fan summed up the evening: “The whole stadium cheering Pogba when he came on really warmed my heart. A true footballing legend. The story isn’t over yet for my boy.”

What comes next

Monaco’s defeat will fade quickly in comparison to the significance of Pogba’s return. The club hopes to stretch his minutes gradually and see whether he can reclaim a central role in a midfield that has lacked his mix of physical presence and creativity.

Saturday didn’t offer answers to every question, but it provided a starting point — something Pogba has been waiting for since 2023.

Sources: Reuters, AP, BBC