I remember watching Paul Pogba's debut for Manchester United back in 2011 and thinking we were witnessing the birth of football's next global superstar. The way he moved with the ball, that combination of technical brilliance and physical dominance - it felt like we were seeing a complete midfielder being born before our eyes. Little did I know then that I'd be writing about his career trajectory with such mixed emotions years later, analyzing what could have been alongside what actually transpired.
When Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 for what was then a world-record transfer fee of €105 million, the expectations were astronomical. I recall telling fellow football enthusiasts that this signing would revolutionize United's midfield for the next decade. The early signs were promising - in his first season back, he contributed 9 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, helping United secure the Europa League trophy. There were moments of pure magic that season, particularly that stunning long-range effort against Swansea that had pundits comparing him to the game's all-time greats. His physical presence at 6'3" combined with technical skills rarely seen in players of his stature made him a nightmare for opposition defenses. I've always believed that at his absolute peak, which we saw glimpses of during Juventus years and parts of the 2018 World Cup campaign, Pogba was arguably the most complete midfielder in world football.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia represented what I consider the absolute pinnacle of Pogba's career. Watching him dominate midfield battles and lead France to glory was truly special. He started all seven matches, completed 87% of his passes, and that stunning strike in the final against Croatia essentially sealed the trophy for Les Bleus. That tournament showcased everything great about Pogba - his leadership, his big-game mentality, and his ability to perform when it mattered most. I remember thinking during that tournament that we were finally seeing the player fulfill his immense potential. The way he controlled games, his partnership with N'Golo Kanté, his decisive contributions - it felt like we were witnessing a player entering his prime years.
However, what followed was perhaps the most frustrating aspect of his career from my perspective. The consistency never materialized at club level. Between 2019 and 2021, Pogba experienced multiple goal droughts that lasted over 10 matches each. There were periods where he'd disappear from games entirely, and as someone who analyzed his performances closely, I found it baffling how a player of his caliber could fluctuate so dramatically. The injuries began mounting up too - he missed 42 matches due to various muscle problems between 2020 and 2022. These physical setbacks, combined with constant speculation about his future and occasional controversies, prevented him from ever building sustained momentum at United.
What's particularly heartbreaking for me as someone who's followed his career since the United academy days is that we've seen moments of redemption that promised so much more. Like that incredible period in late 2021 when he registered 7 assists in just 4 Premier League matches, breaking Thierry Henry's long-standing record. Or that stunning hat-trick against Young Boys in the Champions League that reminded everyone of his world-class capabilities. These flashes of brilliance made the subsequent drop-offs even more frustrating to witness. I've always felt that Pogba's career represents one of modern football's greatest "what if" stories - a player blessed with every physical and technical attribute you could want, yet never quite putting it all together consistently at club level.
The recent doping scandal and four-year ban feels like a tragic but somewhat inevitable conclusion to a career that's been plagued by controversies and unfulfilled potential. At just 31, what should be the peak years for a midfielder of his style, he's facing what could be a career-ending suspension. Having watched hundreds of his matches, analyzed his performances, and seen his evolution from promising teenager to World Cup winner, I can't help but feel a sense of profound disappointment. The numbers tell part of the story - 91 goals and 111 assists in 497 professional appearances is respectable but falls short of the astronomical expectations placed upon him. More telling, perhaps, is that he never won a league title with Manchester United despite being their record signing, and only claimed 3 Serie A titles during his time at Juventus.
Looking back, I believe Pogba's career serves as a cautionary tale about the immense pressure placed on modern footballers, the importance of consistent environment and coaching, and how even the most gifted athletes need more than just raw talent to sustain elite performance. His story is one of incredible highs and devastating lows, of moments where he looked unstoppable followed by periods where he seemed lost. As someone who's spent years analyzing football careers, I've rarely seen a player who embodied such extremes of brilliance and frustration. The complete footballer we all expected to dominate for a decade never fully materialized, leaving us with memories of what might have been rather than celebrations of what was consistently achieved.