Pogba helped France win the 2018 World Cup, making his current position a sharp contrast to his previous status. Eight years later, reputation alone could not overcome a long absence from regular football.
The report says Pogba’s omission was not a surprise to him. France required midfielders who could demonstrate fitness and match rhythm, while the squad’s depth made selection even more difficult. For a player who has spent extended periods away from competition, the gap between being respected and being selectable has become decisive.
Pogba’s reported two-year move to AS Monaco was intended to provide a platform for his comeback after his Juventus contract ended. That return has been disrupted by knee problems, and the report says he was left out of Monaco’s Champions League knockout squad.
The bigger issue is not one tournament. It is whether Pogba can build a sustained run of club appearances. His comeback has also followed a doping suspension that was later reduced on appeal, adding to the time lost from elite football. At 33, reliable availability matters as much as his technical quality.
France are preparing for a quarter-final against Morocco in Boston, according to the report. Their progress without Pogba underlines the strength of the current midfield options and explains why a national-team return would be difficult even if his fitness improves.
The next storyline is Pogba’s first genuinely consistent period at Monaco. A return to France remains a distant possibility, but regular club football would be the only convincing route back into that conversation.