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Paul Pogba Praises Cristiano Ronaldo After Accepting Globe Soccer 2025 Award
Former Manchester United and Juventus star Paul Pogba honoured his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, praising the Portugal international as a lasting inspiration in his acceptance speech on stage. The Frenchman had just won the Comeback of the Year award at the Globe Soccer Awards.
A footballer again after a two-year hiatus, Pogba was hit with a four-year suspension in September 2023 after a drug test revealed elevated levels of testosterone. Now 32, the central midfielder appealed said decision and his ban was reduced to 18 months as a result.
Fans got to witness the one-time World Cup winner back on the turf on November 22 as he replaced Mamadou Coulibaly in Monaco‘s 4-1 defeat to Stade Rennais. He’s since played an extra two matches in Ligue 1 and, in the wake of his return, has been issued a controversial award.
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Paul Pogba – Club Career Statistics |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Club |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
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Manchester United |
233 |
39 |
51 |
|
Juventus |
190 |
34 |
40 |
|
AS Monaco |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Pogba Heaps Praise on Ronaldo After Accepting Award
After a tricky start to Pogba’s Monaco career (the aforementioned 4-1 defeat, mainly), Sebastien Pocognoli’s side managed to pick up three points in a 1-0 victory over table-topping Paris Saint-Germain. Pogba, though, added a mere four minutes to his 2025/26 tally.
December 5, at the time of writing, has produced his most notable cameo yet: in a 1-0 defeat to Stade Brestois, the rangy engine room patroller played 21 minutes. At the end of the month, Pogba was in a star-studded room – alongside the likes of Lamine Yamal and compatriot Ousmane Dembele – to pick up an award at the Globe Soccer Awards.
A journey of ups and downs followed after Pogba was initially accused of doping and his return to football has seen him get his hands on the 2025 Best Sports Comeback Award.
“It wasn’t easy… It was a very important moment for me, in my life, to see what really, the people that were really there for you, the people that really love you when you are outside the shiny moment,” said Pogba as he stood on the stage to collect his award.
“This award means a lot, for me and for my wife…we’ve gone through so much together. She helped me a lot, and my kids kept me smiling,” the Le Havre academy graduate added, per MARCA.
While on stage, Pogba made sure to thank none other than Ronaldo, who is now spending the twilight period of his career in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and was named Best Player on the night.
“Cristiano, you are here, you have inspired all of us as a soccer player. You did this for the next generation. Big thank you, Cristiano.”
Pogba and Ronaldo, two of the biggest names in the beautiful game, were teammates in the Portuguese’s second season at Old Trafford during his second stint at the club (2021/22). The talented pair shared the pitch 21 times together, though they did not combine for a goal.
Now in his homeland with Monaco, Pogba is clearly looking to draw motivation from his decorated former teammate, who has started the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League campaign with a bang. So far, he’s racked up 11 goal contributions (ten goals and one assist) in nine outings.
Fans Complain About Legitimacy of Pogba’s Award
In this stage of his career, Pogba represents something of a saviour figure for Monaco, just as he did when he joined United for a then-world record fee of £89 million in 2016. His current employers are sat ninth in France’s top flight – but a spot in Europe will be in their sights thanks to his arrival.
That said, there is a collection of supporters unhappy with the fact that Pogba has picked up the aforementioned award. “They just be creating anything, what is this BS?” one said before adding: “Celebrating a guy for jeopardizing his own career is just hilarious.”
“Played 3 games since he came back. In those three games, he’s played a total of 30 mins. Zero goals or assists and the team lost 2 of those games. He gets the Best Comeback Award? An award 99% of us didn’t know even existed. As someone who rates Pogba, I find this to be a joke.”
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“Three appearances for Monaco in Ligue 1. Simply incredible. What a story,” another added in a sarcastic manner as a final supporter wrote that football needs to stop creating ‘random awards’. “Football needs to put a stop on these random awards!! Go back to what we know. Wtf is ‘Best Comeback Award’?”
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 29/12/2025
