French-Guinean midfielder Paul Pogba set for Champions League return after three years out

Paul Pogba is poised to reappear on the Champions League stage after more than three years away, stepping back into a competition where he once flourished.

The midfielder is targeting a revival after injuries, suspensions and personal setbacks halted a career long viewed as destined for European greatness.

The French-Guinean star last played in the Champions League in March 2022, when Manchester United lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford.

His long absence reflects a turbulent period marked by physical struggles and the fallout from his doping suspension.

At 32, Pogba recently completed his Ligue 1 return with Monaco in their 4-1 defeat to Rennes, and he is expected to hear the Champions League anthem again in this week’s meeting with Pafos.

His numbers underscore the length of his exile from Europe’s elite. Pogba has not scored in the competition since December 2020, during a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig, and his last assist came weeks earlier in United’s 5-0 win over Leipzig at Old Trafford.

His Champions League record stands at 23 wins, 13 draws and 21 defeats across spells with Juventus and Manchester United.

Pogba’s European journey began in October 2012 when he debuted for Juventus against Shakhtar Donetsk. He went on to make 32 Champions League appearances for the Italian side, producing 14 wins and building a reputation for dominance in midfield.

His time with United brought mixed results, yielding 25 matches and a far more inconsistent set of performances.

The contrast highlights how different environments shaped his influence—commanding and expressive in Turin, but constrained in Manchester’s shifting project.

Now, with Monaco offering a fresh platform, Pogba enters his latest European chapter seeking redemption.