Paul Pogba’s comeback story reaches emotional high as Cristiano Ronaldo hailed as inspiration

For Paul Pogba, the night in Dubai was never really about trophies, red carpets or applause. It was about survival, resilience and proving to himself that the darkest chapter of his career did not get the final word. When the French midfielder stepped onto the stage at the Globe Soccer Awards to collect the Comeback Player of the Year prize, the moment carried far more weight than a standard end-of-year accolade.

After 811 days away from competitive football, following a doping ban that threatened to end his career, Pogba stood again as a professional footballer. And among the names he chose to thank, one stood out above all others: Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former Manchester United teammate was sitting in the audience, and Pogba’s words were heartfelt rather than rehearsed. This was not about headlines or social media soundbites. It was about acknowledging a figure who, in Pogba’s eyes, represented discipline, longevity and belief at the very highest level.

“Cristiano, you are here,” Pogba said. “You have inspired all of us as a soccer player. You did this for the next generation. Big thank you, Cristiano.”

‘The nightmare is over’: Pogba reflects on the darkest period of his career

Paul Pogba: Juventus and France midfielder has doping ban reduced to 18 months –

To understand why this award mattered so much, you have to go back to September 2023. At the time, Pogba was a Juventus player struggling for rhythm and fitness, when news broke that he had tested positive for elevated testosterone levels following a routine drugs test. The punishment was severe: a four-year ban from football.

For a 30-year-old midfielder already battling injuries, it felt like a career death sentence.

Pogba always maintained his innocence, insisting he never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations and that the substance came from a nutritional supplement prescribed by a doctor. For months, his life was put on hold. No training, no matches, no stadiums. Just legal battles, uncertainty and isolation.

In October 2024, everything changed. The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced his suspension to 18 months, accepting his explanation. Pogba described the moment with raw honesty.

“Finally, the nightmare is over,” he said at the time. “I can look forward to the day when I can follow my dreams again.”

Those words captured both relief and exhaustion. Pogba spoke openly about how distressing the period had been, how everything he had worked for had been frozen overnight. Footballers are often viewed as untouchable, but this episode stripped Pogba back to the basics: identity, family and mental strength.

A return delayed, but not denied

Although Pogba was allowed to return to training in January 2025, his path back to competitive football was far from straightforward. Juventus, the club he once rejoined with such optimism, had already terminated his contract. There were doubts across Europe about whether Pogba could still operate at elite level after such a long absence.

Then came Monaco.

The Ligue 1 side took a calculated gamble, offering Pogba a chance to rebuild quietly, away from the relentless spotlight of the Premier League or Serie A. It was not a glamorous move, but it was the right one.

By the time he stepped onto the pitch again, 811 days had passed since his last competitive appearance. Since then, he has made three appearances for Monaco, carefully managed as his body adjusts to the demands of top-level football once more.

Those minutes may seem insignificant to some, but for Pogba they represented something priceless: proof that he was back.

Comeback Player of the Year: more than just an award

Winning the Best Comeback Award at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 felt symbolic. This was not about goals or assists, but about endurance. Pogba made that clear in his acceptance speech, choosing to focus on the people who stood by him when football was taken away.

“It wasn’t easy,” he admitted. “It was a very important moment for me, in my life, to see the people that were really there for you, when you are outside the shiny moment.”

The words resonated deeply. Pogba has lived much of his career under intense scrutiny, often criticised as much as he was celebrated. But this period showed him who truly mattered.

He spoke emotionally about his wife and children, crediting them for keeping him grounded and smiling through a time that also included a deeply personal trauma: his brother Mathias being involved in a blackmail case against him.

“This award means a lot, for me and for my wife,” Pogba said. “We’ve gone through so much together. She helped me a lot, and my kids kept me smiling.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence on Pogba’s mindset

Pogba’s decision to single out Cristiano Ronaldo was no coincidence. The two first crossed paths at Manchester United’s academy, long before Pogba became a World Cup winner and Ronaldo became a global icon.

They later played together during the 2021–22 season at Old Trafford, a period often remembered for chaos rather than success. Yet behind the scenes, Pogba was watching, learning.

In late 2022, after Ronaldo had moved to Al-Nassr, Pogba offered a revealing insight into what set him apart.

“Ronaldo’s discipline was unbelievable – I’ve never seen that,” Pogba said. “Someone who has been there every day and doesn’t stop – that’s Cristiano.”

For Pogba, discipline was always a topic attached to his name, sometimes unfairly. His admiration for Ronaldo speaks volumes about the kind of professional he aspired to be, particularly during his comeback.

Seeing Ronaldo continue to perform into his late 30s, still driven, still obsessed with improvement, clearly left a mark. In Dubai, with Ronaldo present, Pogba’s gratitude felt deeply personal.

Paul Pogba Monaco 2025-26

What comes next for Paul Pogba?

The obvious question now is whether Pogba can rediscover anything close to his best form. At 32, with a history of injuries and nearly two years away from competitive football, expectations are understandably cautious.

Monaco are managing him carefully, and Pogba himself appears realistic. The next immediate target is more minutes, more rhythm, more trust in his body. His next opportunity is set to come on January 3, at home to Lyon, a fixture that will test both his fitness and confidence.

International football, once the defining stage of his career, feels far more distant. Pogba played a central role in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph, but the idea of forcing his way back into Didier Deschamps’ plans for the 2026 World Cup seems a long shot.

That said, Pogba has built a career on defying expectations.

A legacy still being written

Whether Pogba ever reaches the heights of his Juventus or early Manchester United days again almost feels secondary now. This comeback is about reclaiming control of his own story.

The Globe Soccer Awards moment, standing on stage and thanking Cristiano Ronaldo, was a reminder of how football careers are shaped not just by talent, but by resilience. Pogba could have faded quietly after his ban, remembered only for controversy. Instead, he fought back.

His journey remains unfinished, uncertain and imperfect. But perhaps that is what makes it compelling.

For now, Pogba is back on the pitch, back in football, and back believing. And after everything he has endured, that alone feels like a victory.