Pogba's Monaco Comeback: A Tale of Tears, Injuries, and Fading World Cup Dreams
Paul Pogba's emotional return to football with Monaco has been hampered by persistent injuries, threatening his World Cup hopes and raising questions about his future.
Paul Pogba’s emotional return to football after a lengthy doping ban has turned into a frustrating saga of setbacks and disappointment, with the Frenchman’s World Cup dreams hanging by a thread.
811 Days in the Wilderness
When Pogba stepped onto the pitch for Monaco on November 22nd last year, it ended an 811-day absence from competitive football. The former Manchester United midfielder couldn’t hold back the tears during his presentation at the Principality club, hoping to resurrect his career and make a final World Cup appearance at 33.
After serving an 18-month doping ban and navigating a messy family legal dispute, Pogba’s Monaco move was meant to be his salvation. The 2018 World Cup winner had already missed Qatar 2022 through injury, making his determination to reach the 2026 tournament even stronger.
The Comeback That Never Quite Came
Monaco had carefully crafted a return-to-play programme scheduled for October, but Pogba’s body has stubbornly refused to cooperate:
- Two muscle injuries disrupted his initial comeback plan
- He managed just 30 minutes across three consecutive matches between November and December
- A calf problem on December 5th has ruled him out of Monaco’s upcoming Champions League clash at the Bernabéu
”Not Working As Expected”
The situation has become concerning enough for Monaco’s sporting director Thiago Scuro to publicly acknowledge the difficulties: “It’s evident that the programme and plan for Paul aren’t functioning as initially expected.”
Pogba’s physical struggles have taken a psychological toll too. As each setback pushes him further from Didier Deschamps’ radar for the USA World Cup, the midfielder is reportedly suffering emotionally as his comeback efforts repeatedly falter.
Financial Complications
The commercial side of Pogba’s Monaco adventure initially looked brilliant. His arrival triggered a merchandise frenzy with his shirt selling out for three weeks straight, with queues forming to get hold of one.
But the bread and butter is on the pitch, and Monaco’s financial investment is looking increasingly precarious:
- Pogba earns approximately €320,000 monthly - well above the club’s standard wage structure
- Monaco is navigating serious financial difficulties due to collapsed TV rights deals in France
- His salary makes him a prime candidate for cost-cutting next season
The club hopes Pogba can return to action by late January, but with each passing week, his future at Monaco grows more uncertain. For now, the fans remain firmly behind him, giving him a hero’s welcome during his brief appearances. Whether that patience lasts depends entirely on whether the Paul Pogba of old can finally emerge from this injury nightmare.