Paul Pogba is an amalgamation of style, skill, and football. One of the most exciting and powerful midfield talents of his generation, Pogba’s career has been characterized by a plethora of highs on club as well as international levels due to his cocktailed attributes of the physical, vision, and creative type. Let’s go through Paul Pogba’s history-a glimpse of that in terms of records, trophies, goals, and assists.
Childhood and Growing Years
Born on March 15, 1993, in Lagny-sur-Marne, France, Paul Labile Pogba was the son of Guinea natives. His journey to becoming a football prodigy commenced early in life with a brief membership at the local club, US Roissy-en-Brie. At a very tender age, he was clearly a talented boy, and at the age of 13, he had caught the attention of one of the foremost football academies in France, Le Havre. From there, he would make the sideways shift to the Manchester United youth system in 2009.
Climbing the Ladder To Stardom at Manchester United
In a short time while with United’s youth team, Pogba climbed through the ranks up to the senior team, but he could not establish himself in the first eleven as Sir Alex Ferguson did not consider him ready. In 2012, Pogba controversially switched to Juventus, where his upward rise began in spectacular fashion.
Juventus: The Birth of a Superstar
Pogba’s stay at Juventus (2012–16) changed his career. Under the tutelage of coach Antonio Conte, he quickly became one of the best midfielders in the world. During his four-year stay in Italy, Pogba bagged several Serie A championships, including the coveted Scudetto. His hard-tackling box-to-box style and a remarkable eye for a killer pass buoyed him up into the very core of the team.
Trophies at Juventus:
4 Serie A titles (2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16)
2 Coppa Italia (2014–15, 2015–16)
2 Supercoppa Italiana (2013, 2015)
Also, his time at Juventus made him truly one of the best, and his passing range and great dribbling ability became outstanding trademarks of his game. With Pogba on the field, Juventus was virtually guaranteed to get an average of 10 to 15 goals per season (goals and assists combined).
Return to Manchester United
In 2016, after an incredible spell in Italy, Pogba returned to Manchester United for a (then) world-record transfer fee of £89 million. There began a new chapter in Pogba’s career as he started a second stint at Old Trafford. While he was often criticized for his inconsistency, Pogba was capable of showing his sublime talent a number of times.
Trophies at Manchester United:
1 UEFA Europa League (2016–17)
1 FA Cup (2015–16)
1 EFL Cup (2016–17)
2 UEFA Super Cup (2016, 2017)
In the Manchester United midfield, Pogba made a monumental impact, especially during the 2018–19 season under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, where he delivered stellar performances. As a United player, Pogba conveniently performed the role of the focal point for the creation and delivery of attacks, and with it, he garnished/topped off assists. But with thundering inconsistencies and off-field drama, at times, Pogba’s undeniable talent found itself punctured.
International Glory with France
Pogba’s club career is no less impressive; however, his time on the international circuit with the national team has been another world altogether. Pogba made his debut for France in 2013, becoming a fixture in the French national team Les Bleus thereafter. His leadership qualities, versatility, and capability to dominate the midfield made him an indispensable player in the squad.
France Major Trophies:
2018 FIFA World Cup: Pogba helped France win the World Cup and played an influential role within the team, assisting with some goals and charging the goal in the final against Croatia with a spectacular and fantastic goal. His performances during the tournament saw him receive much praise, thus earning his place as one among the top midfielders in the world today.
UEFA Euro 2016: Though France lost to Portugal in the finals, Pogba’s performances were excellent as he dictated the midfield and became part of what made the order of the game through the offense.
UEFA Nations League 2021: Pogba is one of those who helped the French side win in the UEFA Nations League, showcasing his versatility and importance, consistency, in the international front.
Records and Stats
Pogba’s statistics paints a mind-blowing take of achievements in both club and international football. Some of his glorious achievements are:
World Cup Champion(2018)-Pogba was a major contributor toward France’s glory after scoring during the final and protruding his leadership in the midfield.
Most Expensive Frenchman-Ever since 2016, when Pogba transferred back to Old Trafford, he has become the most expensive Frenchman so far, aftyer his transfer fees of £89 million from Juventus.
Goal Stats-Up to 2024, he has been credited to over 60 goals within club competitions, with Juventus and Manchester United dominating the club competition.
Assists: Pogba still manages very sizeable assists, well above the 50 in club football; he has been a constant provider, creating key passes and scoring chances.
Paul Pogba’s Style of Play
Pogba’s versatility at the midfield is worth noting as he can range from defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder to central midfielder but, he excels the most when at the role of a box-to-box midfielder. His blend of physical strength, creativity, and technical ability has meant that he can dictate the tempo of the game, win tackles, break defenses, and provide important assists. He is truly great at making long passes, visionary passes, as well as a needed playmaker.
Conclusion
It has been a career that has had a lot of pressure that has offset the glamour factor, enjoying some of the highest highs with a sprinkling of the occasional lows. Since his time in the red of Manchester United, rising through Juventus, and coming back to Manchester United, Pogba has been one of the most exciting footballers and most gifted football talents in world football. Having skill, vision, and strength combined in the midfield has meant that Pogba provides great service to both club and country.
By winning titles, setting records, and scoring goals besides a lot of assists, Pogba’s legacy as one of the best midfielders of this generation of players seems sealed. But, far from done with his career, fans will continue to wait as he adds yet more feather to his tat.
