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PAUL POGBA RETURNS TO PITCH FOR MONACO PROFESSIONAL DEBUT TONIGHT
Paul Pogba made his emotional return to football for Monaco after a doping ban, playing in a 4-1 defeat to Rennes. The ex-Man United star aims to regain fitness and dreams of a 2026 World Cup call with France.
The timing was unable to alter the outcome, as Monaco found themselves down 4-0 against Rennes. The match was marred by a poor defensive showing and a red card received by their captain, Denis Zakaria, before the halftime break. Despite entering the game under such dire circumstances, Pogba's symbolic return captured more attention than the actual score. Mika Biereth managed to score a consolation goal in the dying minutes of the match, yet Monaco's defeat, marking their second consecutive 4-1 loss, left Sebastien Pocognoli's team in eighth place in Ligue 1. For Pogba, this evening was less about the score and more about returning to the sport he cherishes.
From suspension to a fresh start
Pogba's return followed a tumultuous phase that nearly cut short his career. In August 2023, while he was with Juventus, he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which resulted in an initial suspension and a four-year ban announced in February 2024. He maintained that the positive test stemmed from inadvertently taking a tainted supplement, a stance successfully supported by his legal team, leading to a reduction of the ban and permitting his comeback in March 2025. Juventus ended his contract by mutual agreement in late 2024, leaving the 2018 World Cup champion without a club and without game time for over two years. Monaco decided to take a risk, and now Pogba is once again competing on the field.
"There were many emotions. I felt joy, but there's a touch of sadness because of the result," he shared with Ligue 1+.
"We’ve travelled a significant distance. Today was an important milestone. I achieved it, and I feel pleased. However, it’s disappointing to have lost. I'm feeling good after all the hard work I've put in. I still need time to regain full fitness and play a full 90 minutes, but that will happen gradually. We’re training for that. I aim to support the team as much as I can. It felt a bit odd at first to be back on the plane with the team, but I’ve adjusted well. We have an excellent group and are getting back into a good rhythm."
As reported by L’Equipe, Monaco's medical team plans a cautious return strategy, incrementally increasing his on-field time to ultimately achieve back-to-back 90-minute appearances with only a three-day recovery period in between. He aspires to don the French national jersey again at the 2026 World Cup, convinced that there is one final chapter with Les Bleus still to be written. With 91 caps and 11 goals to his name, Pogba sees his time in Ligue 1 as a crucial opportunity to secure a spot in Didier Deschamps's squad.
"What are my goals? Short term, to regain full fitness, play 90 minutes, and provide as much support to my team as I can," he articulated. "Right now, it’s about being a part of the team. The World Cup is still some time away. At the moment, it’s about taking things step by step. Participating in the World Cup would merely be a bonus."
Pocognoli has consistently highlighted that Pogba's contribution to Monaco is not limited to his abilities in passing or his physical skills. The Belgian coach regards Pogba as a fundamental figure within the team, serving as a guide and a link between emerging talents and the high standards of professional football.
"In one of my early discussions within the club, I addressed the importance of our heritage. I feel it is essential for leaders like Paul to impart their experiences to the younger generation, the supporters, and everyone associated with the club," he remarked. "These seasoned players need to take on mentoring roles for the newcomers. It is my responsibility to ensure their success. The greater the number of leaders we cultivate, the more evenly the pressure will be shared. If Paul is utilised wisely, the entire group stands to benefit from his presence."
Pogba's next challenge is against Pafos.
After 811 days filled with numerous medical evaluations, legal disputes, emotional challenges, and physical setbacks, Pogba has returned to the field. Currently, Monaco is positioned eighth in the league, only two points away from fourth-placed Strasbourg. Their upcoming match is against PSG in Ligue 1 on November 29, and Pogba is eager to increase his playing time. He stated, "Ultimately, it depends on the coach's decisions. I will do everything possible to contribute and support the team." The journey ahead is still extensive, but he is finally back on track.
CELTIC SACK WILFRIED NANCY TODAY AFTER DISASTROUS 33-DAY TENURE AND SIX LOSSES
Celtic sack Wilfried Nancy after a record-short 33-day tenure. Explore the stats behind his 6 losses and the hunt for a new boss.
After Celtic's 3-1 loss to Rangers last weekend, the club fired manager Wilfried Nancy.
Nancy, 48, signed a two-and-a-half-year deal after leaving the Columbus Crew at the end of the MLS season and officially began on December 4.
After Brendan Rodgers' unexpected exit, interim manager Martin O'Neill led Celtic to seven wins in eight games. But after Nancy arrived, the results went down. He was the first Celtic manager to lose his first two games, and also lost to St. Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final and to Dundee United.
After six losses and one month, Wilfried Nancy's short and bad time as Celtic manager is done.
Only 33 days after he left the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer for Celtic, the club said on Monday that it has decided to end the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy right away.
Paul Tisdale is also leaving as Celtic's head of operations, and there was no news about a new manager.
The club added, We will let supporters know more as soon as we can.
Nancy lost its first four games, including a League Cup final, and six of eight overall. His last game was a 3-1 home loss to Glasgow rival Rangers on Saturday in the Old Firm derby.
Nancy's time was a bit shorter than Martin O'Neill's interim time, who had taken over after Brendan Rodgers left on Oct. 27. Nancy was hired on Dec. 3.
O'Neill, a popular figure who won three Scottish titles with Celtic in the early 2000s, later said he would have liked to stay.
Celtic plays Dundee United on Saturday, kicking off a busy stretch of eight games in 24 days.
That includes two key Europa League games against Bologna from Italy and Utrecht from the Netherlands. Celtic is currently in the 24th and final qualifying spot and wants to avoid being knocked out early.
Celtic also plays Hearts on Jan. 25 in what could be a big game in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Hearts is six points ahead of Celtic and Rangers at the top of the standings. The Edinburgh club wants to be the first team outside of the Old Firm to win the title since Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985.
HUGO BROOS UNDER FIRE AFTER SHOCKING AFCON EXIT AND WASTED 2026 MOMENTUM
South Africa crashes out of AFCON 2026. Was leaving Zwane and Rayners out a mistake? Full analysis of the 2-1 loss to Cameroon.
Hugo Broos and Bafana Bafana crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a gutting 2-1 loss to Cameroon on Sunday night.
It stings. Back home, everyone expected the team to build on that bronze medal finish, especially after storming through World Cup qualification and racking up a 27-game unbeaten streak. Instead, they just never found their rhythm in Morocco. Even in their wins—2-1 over Angola, then a tight 3-2 against Zimbabwe, or the narrow 1-0 loss to Egypt, Bafana looked shaky. The self-belief and control they showed in the qualifiers just disappeared. They hesitated, second-guessed, and rarely put any team under real pressure.
Against Cameroon, who didn’t even make the World Cup, Bafana should’ve looked more assured. They had the ball, created chances, but couldn’t convert. All that effort, and still, they walked away empty-handed.
You have to wonder if Broos regrets leaving out players like Themba Zwane and Iqraam Rayners. Without Mshishi pulling strings, Bafana missed that cool head and spark in the middle—exactly the kind of guile that changes games at AFCON. The team moved the ball sideways too often, looking predictable and running out of ideas. There was no one to pick apart a packed defence, no one to slow things down or speed them up when needed.
Sure, Bafana stayed organised. They worked hard. But when the pressure was on, they just lacked imagination and couldn’t adapt.
Rayners, especially, could’ve made a real difference up front. Against Cameroon in the last sixteen, Lyle Foster worked hard but never really rattled that tough defence. Rayners has a knack for sharper movement, attacking space, pressing with intent, and just going straight for the goal. Even Makgopa’s late strike—proof that Cameroon could be hurt by a different kind of striker—came too late. Rayners would’ve brought that edge from the start.
This exit will haunt Broos because it didn’t have to end like this. Bafana came to Morocco with momentum and belief. They left without ever making their mark. AFCON doesn’t forgive missed chances, and this run will go down as a wasted shot—a lesson that discipline and structure don’t mean much without bravery and creativity.
With the World Cup coming up in June, South Africa has to be bolder. The good vibes from qualifying won’t matter if the same problems show up again on the world’s biggest stage.
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