Paul Pogba, a midfielder for France, will miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar owing to persistent knee injury.
Pogba had surgery on his right knee in early September, and it wasn’t until this month that he started working out again with Juventus.
Since coming back to Juventus from Manchester United, he hasn’t played and sustained another injury.
Tests conducted in Turin and Pittsburgh revealed that Pogba, 29, won’t be ready for the World Cup.
A Juventus official told The Associated Press on Monday, “We won’t see him until 2023 and his crew have verified that likewise he will be out of the World Cup.”
Rafaela Pimenta, his agent, also issued a statement. She stated, “It is really difficult to report that Paul Pogba requires further rehabilitation after his operation after medical testing yesterday and today. Paul is unable to travel to Qatar with the France team due to this.”
Pogba, who had returned to Juventus from Manchester United two weeks before amid much fanfare, underwent surgery after tearing his meniscus during the Italian team’s preseason tour of the United States in July.
But ever since, things have been difficult for him.
Additionally, he was embroiled in an extortion incident involving his older brother and pals from his youth. In April, Pogba last participated in a competitive game.
On Nov. 22, the defending champion France will start their FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar against Australia.
Didier Deschamps, the France coach, will reveal his team on November 9; Tunisia and Denmark are also in France’s Group D.
N’Golo Kanté of Chelsea, who helped France win the 2018 World Cup, will miss a few months of action after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury. Hence, he will also miss out of the party in Qatar.
Paul Pogba
Paul Labile Pogba, a French professional football player who competes for both the France national team and Serie A club Juventus, was born on March 15, 1993.
He typically plays in the center of midfield, but he can also be used as a left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, or deep-lying playmaker.
Internationally, Pogba led France to victory at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, winning the tournament’s Best Player award for his efforts.
Ayear later, he made his senior squad debut. He was a standout at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, when he won the Best Young Player Award for his contributions.
Later, he represented his country at the UEFA Euro 2016 on home soil, where he came in second, and went on to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup by scoring in the final game.
In order to salvage what has so far been a disappointing return to Juve in the second half of the season, Pogba must now concentrate his energies on completely recovering from his initial knee injury and conquering the current thigh issue after completing medical tests in Turin and Pittsburgh.
How will France Manage Without Pogba?
The announcement is a major loss for the defending world champions France, who will also suffer the absence of Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
Now, it’s anticipated that Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot will start for France in midfield against Australia on November 22.
When France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final to win the trophy for the second time, Pogba was one of the team’s most important players.
