Former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba made his Monaco debut Saturday, playing his first minutes in over two years.
Pogba, 32, came on in the 85th minute of a 4-1 loss at Rennes in the French league.
Once a standout world champion for France, the midfielder's career was derailed by injuries, off-field problems and a doping ban.
He wept when he signed his two-year contract with Monaco during the offseason in a bid to relaunch his career. He recently overcame a minor ankle injury and resumed training with Monaco during the international break.
A total of 811 days had passed since his last game, when he made his last appearance for Juventus on Sept. 3, 2023.
At his peak, Pogba helped his country win the 2018 World Cup, scoring in the final when France beat Croatia 4-2. He spent most of his career between United and Juventus, finally leaving the Italian club in November 2024.
In 2016, Pogba became the then-most expensive soccer player in history when he returned to United from Juventus for a fee of 105 million ($116 million).
The biggest blow to his career came in February 2024, when he was initially banned for four years by Italy's anti-doping court after he tested positive for testosterone while still at Juventus. In October 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his ban to 18 months.
