28 days later: How Pogba went from Comeback of the Year to the verge of release in Monaco nightmare

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 28 Jan 2026 06:34 CST
• 5 min read

Analysis

When Paul Pogba picked up the Comeback of the Year prize at the Globe Soccer Awards in late December, he had played 30 minutes of competitive football and Monaco were already questioning the logic behind signing the midfielder on a two-year deal.

The former Manchester United and Juventus player was scarcely credible as a candidate for the gong. Not only had his absence been inflicted after being found guilty of taking a Performance Enhancing Drug (PED), but he had only ‘comeback’ for 30 minutes of action by that point.

Fast forward a month, and Pogba finds himself stuck on the outside looking in as Monaco prepare to fight for their Champions League lives against his former side Juventus.

Paul Pogba, emotional when he signed for Monaco… what a moment. 🥺❤️‍🩹@AS_Monaco 🎥👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/d1jBTTFQt7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2025

The 32-year-old France international has been persistently injured since signing on for the Ligue 1 side in the summer. The move was controversial then, but after thigh, ankle and calf problems, it looks nothing but folly. He has not featured since coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 loss against Brest on 5 December.

“Pogba remains one of the strongest midfielders of his generation, and his absence represented a loss for the spectacle of the game and the example he has always offered to fellow specialists in his role,” Globe Soccer rather boldly claimed. There has been scant evidence to back this up.

Monaco growing restless with Pogba

Indeed, Monaco are getting fed up with their superstar midfielder’s inactivity.

Speaking to the media, Monaco’s under-fire CEO Thiago Scuro said: “Clearly the programme for Paul is not working as we expected in the beginning. We are working hard to find solutions for him. Personally, he is disturbed. The plan is constantly changing according to the situations that we face. A few small injuries in different parts of the body are bringing challenges to the process.

“If it doesn’t work, we can sit down in the summer and have another discussion about where we go.”

Already Pogba’s dream of playing in the World Cup appears to have disappeared, and the season could be about to take an unwelcome twist.

Monaco are already exploring possibilities to part ways with Pogba, Gazzetta dello Sport claims.

Pogba symbolises Monaco’s troubles

Pogba may not be on the field, but he is suffering as much as anyone amidst Monaco’s run of seven defeats in nine Ligue 1 matches. The pressure is being ramped up around the club, with those boasting the highest profiles suffering most. The World Cup winner, the player who was supposed to lead the team through such difficult periods, is among those. His absence from the field only magnifies this.

Fingers are being increasingly pointed as Scuro, who was in charge of a failed summer transfer window as well as the decision to appoint Sebastian Pocognoli to replace Adi Hutter as head coach – a gamble that increasingly looks destined for failure.

A year ago, the Brazilian was being touted as Arsenal’s replacement for sporting director Edu. Now he is being increasingly hounded in Monaco, with his decision to sign Pogba held up as his greatest error.

One final challenge for Pogba?

It’s difficult to see where Pogba goes from here. Monaco gave him one last shot of playing at an elite level, yet his physical problems have denied him any chance to make an impact. It would take a remarkable turnaround for him to see out the remaining 18 months of his current deal.

Could there be one last hurrah in Saudi Arabia or MLS? Certainly, these leagues would look best suited to the superstar if he is to return one last time.

Pogba will not want to bow out of the professional game quietly, and he certainly won’t want his final act to be picking up a Comeback of the Year trophy that looks ever more ridiculous with each game he misses.

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