Credit: IMAGO / SOPA Images

Paul Pogba Makes Emotional Return After 811 Days in Monaco’s 4–1 Defeat to Rennes

Credit: IMAGO / SOPA Images

Paul Pogba finally returned to professional football on Saturday, making his Monaco debut more than two years after his last competitive appearance. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder came on in the 85th minute during a heavy 4–1 defeat away at Rennes in Ligue 1.

Despite the scoreline, Paul Pogba received a warm ovation at Roazhon Park, with home supporters applauding the 32-year-old as he stepped onto the pitch. For Pogba, the moment marked the end of a long and painful spell defined by injuries and a doping suspension. After the match, Pogba described his return as a blessing and a relief.

A Difficult Day for Monaco Despite Paul Pogba Return

Pogba’s journey back to the field has been anything but straightforward. The World Cup winner signed a two-year deal with Monaco in the summer. His comeback was delayed again by a minor ankle injury, but he finally returned to full training during the international break. Notably, this was his first appearance since September 3, 2023, when he last played for Juventus before being sidelined for 811 days.

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𝙒𝙀 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 ❤️

After 811 days, Paul Pogba’s finally back 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Hsj8GnUBQ2
— 433 (@433) November 22, 2025

While Pogba’s return was the headline moment, the match itself was a difficult one for Monaco. Rennes took full control early, with goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas putting the hosts out of sight. A red card to Monaco captain Denis Zakaria only made matters worse. Pogba’s fellow substitute Mika Biereth salvaged a late consolation in stoppage time. As a result, Monaco fell to their second straight 4–1 defeat. The result leaves Sebastien Pocognoli’s side eighth in the Ligue 1 table with 20 points from 13 matches.

For Pogba, the night was about far more than the scoreline. “Football isn’t over for me,” he said afterwards. “We’ve worked hard, we’ve waited more than two years to get back, and today it finally happened. Thank God.”

📸 – Paul Pogba went straight to the ground after the FT whistle to thank Allah for making his return on the pitch happen. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/EK0Sy9dpaJ
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) November 22, 2025

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Paul Pogba further emphasised that he is still working towards full match fitness and hopes to play a bigger role as the season unfolds. Pogba said,

“It really touched me to see the crowd stand and applaud. I honestly didn’t expect that, so a huge thank-you to all the fans who were there today and supported me.”

Ligue 1

Monaco

Paul Pogba

Rennes

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.