Paul Pogba’s first weeks back in football have not gone to plan, with a fresh injury setback derailing his bid to relaunch his career at Monaco and reigniting doubts over his hope of making France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The 31-year-old joined Monaco this summer determined to start again after a long, frustrating spell away from the game, following a doping case that resulted in a ban and brought his Juventus stint to a damaging halt. Pogba has always insisted he never intentionally took a banned substance, and he has been focused on putting the episode behind him with a clean return in Ligue 1.
But his comeback has been rocked by physical problems almost immediately. Pogba has been hampered by injury issues during pre-season, limiting his ability to train regularly and slowing the process of building the fitness and rhythm he needs to play at a high level again.
Those knocks are a major blow for a player whose career in recent years has been shaped as much by time on the treatment table as by what he has done on the pitch. Pogba’s final period at Juventus was badly disrupted by injuries, leaving him unable to put together any consistent run of matches, and his move to Monaco was meant to offer a fresh start in a new environment.
Instead, the early signs suggest his body is still refusing to cooperate. The latest setback has placed his immediate playing prospects in doubt and, more importantly, threatens the wider aim behind the move: forcing his way back into the France picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Pogba has made no secret of how much the World Cup still drives him, with the midfielder believing he can yet return to the international stage if he can stay fit and perform regularly. However, the combination of a drugs ban, lost time, and now another injury has significantly complicated that mission.
Monaco, for their part, had hoped Pogba’s arrival would bring quality, experience and leadership to their squad, while also giving the former Manchester United star the platform to rebuild his career away from the intense scrutiny that followed him in Italy. For now, though, his return is on hold once again as he focuses on recovery and getting his body right.
With the new Ligue 1 season approaching, Pogba’s comeback has already become a waiting game, and Monaco’s plans around him are being forced to adapt. His next steps will depend on how quickly he can recover and whether he can finally string together the uninterrupted weeks of training he has been chasing for years.
