Paul Pogba is finally set to return to the Champions League stage more than three years after his last appearance in Europe’s elite competition. For a player once tipped to dominate the continent, the wait has been a stark reminder of how dramatically his career has stalled.
Pogba’s last Champions League outing came on 15 March 2022, when Manchester United were beaten 1–0 by Atlético Madrid at Old Trafford. What followed was a long and turbulent spell defined by injuries, suspensions and off-field turbulence that pushed him firmly out of the spotlight.
Now 32 and rebuilding his career at AS Monaco, Pogba made his domestic return in the 4–1 defeat to Rennes on 22 November. The next milestone is hearing the Champions League anthem again, something that seemed almost unthinkable not long ago.
Five Years Without a Champions League Goal
The numbers underline just how long Pogba has been away from European competition.
His last goal in the Champions League came on 8 December 2020, a 3–2 defeat to RB Leipzig.
His last assist dates back even further 28 October 2020, in United’s 5–0 demolition of Leipzig.
Across his Champions League career, Pogba has collected:
23 wins
13 draws
21 defeats
He made his European debut more than 13 years ago on 2 October 2012, in Juventus’s 1–1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in Turin. It was the beginning of a spell that transformed him into one of the world’s most exciting young midfielders.
Juventus Hero vs. Manchester United Enigma
The contrast between his time at Juventus and Manchester United remains striking:
At Juventus:
32 Champions League matches
14 wins, 9 draws, 9 defeats
Integral to a side built around power, structure and creativity
At Manchester United:
25 Champions League matches
9 wins, 4 draws, 12 defeats
A talented figure trapped in a turbulent and often directionless rebuild
In Turin, Pogba looked every inch the midfield powerhouse he was expected to become. In Manchester, he became the face of a project that never fully cohered.
A Chance at Redemption
Now at Monaco, and after navigating the most uncertain period of his professional life, Pogba has an unexpected opportunity: to reclaim a place on the European stage and write a new chapter in a career that once burned brighter than almost any of his generation.
For Pogba, the return is about far more than minutes on the pitch. It is a chance to rediscover the rhythm, authority and expressive style that made him a star and perhaps to prove he still belongs among Europe’s best.
