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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.

Paul Pogba Returns To Pitch For Monaco Professional Debut Tonight
Pogba Returns After 800 Days

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.

JONATHAN BURKARDT DOUBLE LEADS FRANKFURT TO 4-3 WIN OVER COLOGNE

Jonathan Burkardt's second-half brace helped Eintracht Frankfurt survive a late Cologne fightback to win a Bundesliga thriller 4-3. The victory extends Frankfurt's unbeaten run to five games.

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Burkardt Delivers Final Punch In Seven-Goal Thriller Win

Jonathan Burkardt's pair of goals in the latter half were enough for Eintracht Frankfurt, who managed to withstand a late resurgence from Cologne to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory in the Cathedral City on Saturday night.

Having lately improved their performance, the visiting team from Frankfurt came to RheinEnergieStadion with a streak of four games without defeat, having netted an impressive total of 23 goals during their initial 10 games.

The home squad shocked Frankfurt by rapidly scoring just four minutes into the game. Dominique Heintz delivered a long pass from the defence, finding Ragnar Ache. The striker went around the approaching Michael Zetterer and passed the ball back to Jakub Kamiński, who precisely shot into the empty goal.

Initially, the goal was rejected due to Ache being offside, but it was later validated following a VAR review. It marked Kamiński's fifth goal in the league this season—already surpassing his previous best record in the Bundesliga for the Polish winger.

The second period saw Frankfurt seize total dominance as Burkardt scored two goals within four minutes, seemingly ensuring Cologne's defeat.

For his initial goal in the 59th minute, the forward initiated the play impressively by delivering a sweeping diagonal pass to Ritsu Dōan on the right side. The Japanese international quickly advanced to the touchline before passing back to Burkardt, who had continued his sprint into the penalty area and completed the move with a skilful first-time shot.

Only four minutes passed before the 25-year-old scored once more. Ansgar Knauff provided him with a through ball, and the striker displayed poise by outmanoeuvring Kristoffer Lund before scoring past Schwäbe, extending the lead to 4-1.

As Frankfurt appeared to be headed for an easy win, Cologne's coach, Lukas Kwasniok, made substitutions, and his choices revitalised the match.

In the 83rd minute, Marius Bülter, who came on for Ache just seven minutes prior, narrowed the margin with a composed shot from inside the box.

Another substitute, Saïd El Mala, then hit the post during added time before setting up Luca Waldschmidt, who headed in Cologne's third goal with just minutes left. Despite the intense conclusion, Frankfurt defended their lead to claim all three points, continuing their current unbeaten run and moving up to sixth place in the standings.

FIFA ADMIT MISTAKE: CRISTIANO RONALDO OMISSION SPARKS GLOBAL OUTCRY

FIFA was forced to delete and replace its 2026 World Cup poster after a major fan backlash over Cristiano Ronaldo's omission. The original featured Bruno Fernandes, sparking swift online criticism.

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FA Deleted World Cup Poster Immediately

When people noticed that Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the first picture FIFA showed for the 2026 World Cup, everyone started talking about it. Fans got so upset online that the picture was taken down and a new one with the Portugal star was quickly put up instead.

The group in charge of international soccer showed a picture with a player from each of the 42 teams that had already made it to the tournament in the United States. They wanted to get people excited about the drawing for the group stage on December 5.

They put in players like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi. But Ronaldo was missing from Portugal's group; instead, Bruno Fernandes was shown.

After the picture was finally removed, a new one with Ronaldo was immediately put up. People thought it was strange that it also had Messi holding the trophy for winning and Youssef En Nesyri from Morocco heading the ball, which caused Portugal to lose in the World Cup in Qatar.

People criticised FIFA because they did not understand why Ronaldo was not in the first picture. The 40-year-old only needs one more goal to be tied for the most goals scored in the qualifying games.

The Al Nassr player has scored in every tournament since 2006 and has scored more World Cup goals than anyone else. Some fans were surprised that he was not automatically included in the advertising because he is so well-known.

One person on social media said, "It is hard to believe FIFA left Cristiano Ronaldo off the official World Cup picture. When it comes to getting people interested, he is the most famous athlete in the world, the kind of person that makes people want to watch the tournament."

Someone else said, "There will be a lot of angry comments because Bruno is being used as the face of Portugal instead of CR7."

"Did the person in charge forget about Ronaldo? It must be a Messi fan who did it," one person said, not really believing it.

"Ronaldo does not need pictures. Pictures need Ronaldo," someone wrote. "When CR7 is missing, people get upset - it is not surprising they had to take it down," another person guessed.

What was even more surprising was that Ronaldo was not in the first picture after he went to the White House with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led a group of officials from Saudi Arabia that included Ronaldo.

In December of last year, Ronaldo said he was happy that Saudi Arabia would be hosting the 2034 World Cup. "It is great. I was not expecting it, but it is very, very, very good," he said.

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