Paul Pogba’s name doesn’t fade easily, he’s one of those players who practically became a cultural phenomenon. Even after years of setbacks, controversy, and absence, it still carries weight, not just because of what he achieved, but because of what he represented. Few players have blended power, flair, and charisma the way he did at his peak. That’s why, despite everything that’s happened, the question lingers, silently, at the back of everyone’s mind : could Pogba still make a return for France at the 2026 World Cup?
On paper, it sounds absurd, inconceivable. He’s been banned, written off, and left behind by a new generation that doesn’t wait for anyone. Yet football has a way of testing logic, especially with players like Pogba, the ones who leave behind more questions than answers. Is it unlikely, yes. But it’s not unthinkable.
In 2018, Pogba stood at the heart of France’s World Cup triumph. He wasn’t just a passenger, he was a leader. His influence in that squad extended beyond his passing and power; he gave the team a balance between control and expression. That tournament in Russia looked like he was actually going to achieve the all timer status that his ability suggested he could. But what followed was the opposite. Injuries piled up and form dipped. At Manchester United, noise around him never stopped, from his hairstyle to his commitment to the team and his workrate, he became the symbol of frustration, flashes of brilliance like that one Manchester derby buried under inconsistency and criticism. Then came the doping scandal, a ban that felt like the final chapter of a career that once promised everything. It wasn’t just a fall from form, it was a fall from grace, a collapse in image. The same player who danced with the World Cup in his hands was suddenly fighting to prove he still belonged in football at all.
Pogba’s suspension felt like the closing curtain on a career that had already been through so much turbulence and criticism. The 18 month ban kept him off the pitch for what, in footballing terms, is an eternity, time that drains sharpness, rhythm, and reputation. For many, it confirmed what critics had long said: Pogba’s career was over.
Beneath the headlines, however, there were signs of quiet persistence. Reports of him training privately, keeping close to his family, and refusing to let go of the idea that he could still play again. The ban damaged his image but it didn’t erase, it couldn’t possibly erase, in fact, the qualities that made him special. When you strip away the drama, you’re still left with a player who, at full flow, was capable of dictating a game with ease, winning you the game even.
Even now, no one doubts Pogba’s natural ability. When fit and focused, he was one of the most complete midfielders of his generation, strong, graceful, and impossible to press when in rhythm. His combination of vision, control, and creativity remains rare, even in France’s current pool of talent.
France have of course moved on with younger, hungrier midfielders, but none perhaps quite replicate what Pogba brought, that mix of leadership, calm under pressure, and the confidence to take responsibility in the biggest games. When the tempo rose and nerves set in, he was the one of those who demanded the ball.
And despite everything, he still has supporters, loyalists who remember the player who carried France through that tournament and lifted dressing rooms with his voice and personality. They believe there’s still a version of Pogba worth waiting for, even if it’s just one final glimpse before the curtain truly closes on his career.
What Pogba brings isn’t just skill, it’s presence. He’s been there when it mattered most, guiding France through high-pressure moments with calm and conviction. Kylian Mbappé once said that when Pogba had the ball, all he had to do was make the run because he knew the pass would come. That trust says everything. Pogba didn’t just play; he connected players, lifted them, made them believe.
Deschamps values that kind of influence. Beyond tactics and technique, he understands the importance of chemistry and leadership in tournament football. Pogba’s energy, humour, and voice shaped the atmosphere in that 2018 dressing room. Even if he’s no longer a guaranteed starter, his presence could still guide a younger French core, a mentor who’s seen both triumph and turbulence.
Sentiment however doesn’t earn selections. Pogba faces an uphill battle that few in his position have ever won. 18 months away from top-level football will have dulled his sharpness, and France’s midfield depth makes his path even steeper. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Khephren Thuram, and others already form a well-drilled, balanced unit that Deschamps trusts.
For Pogba to return, it will not be enough to show glimpses, he’d have to prove reliability, both physically and mentally. His challenge isn’t reminding the world of his talent, it’s convincing everyone he can still be counted on. And that, more than anything, will be the difference between Pogba watching from home and his career taking one last unexpected turn.
A lot of careers don’t get second chances, and Pogba’s doesn’t look particularly likely to. The odds are stacked high; time, fitness and steep competition all against him. But there’s something about him that keeps people from letting go completely. He’s unpredictable, flawed, but undeniably gifted, and the football world has a soft spot for players like that.
It’s easy to say it’s over, yet the idea of Pogba walking out in 2026, older, humbled, and carrying that familiar grin feels strangely believable. Maybe it’s hope, maybe it’s memory, or maybe it’s the simple truth that talent like his never fully disappears. Whatever it is, the question remains: he couldn’t… could he?
