The FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ is now just 6 days away!
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Paul Pogba has never been short on confidence.
At 19, he rejected a contract from Manchester United in search of game time, and moved to Serie A giants Juventus. Within a year he was an Italian champion, with coach Antonio Conte admitting he may need to change his shape to suit the Frenchman.
His debut season in Turin concluded with the FIFA U-20 World Cup Türkiye 2013™, where the midfielder captained a talented French squad which contained the likes of Lucas Digne, Florian Thauvin and Samuel Umtiti.
Pogba swaggered across those U-20 pitches with the same guile he’d wowed Turin with, mixing style and steel as the French advanced the last 16.
He dominated proceedings against the hosts in the first knockout round, hitting a raking pass to help set up the final goal in a 4-1 win. His first tournament strike followed against Uzbekistan, as he debuted his now-famous ‘stutter’ penalty as Les Bleuets once again hit four. Ghana, just as they were in the groups, were swept aside in the semis thanks to a Thauvin brace.
They met Uruguay in the Istanbul decider and Pogba produced his finest display of the tournament. With his collar up and confidence coursing through his veins, the midfield magician pulled out his full repertoire of flicks and tricks, the ball glued to his every touch as he glided past challenges from all angles.
Normal and extra time passed with the game goalless, ensuring a penalty shootout would decide the trophy’s destination. Pogba stepped up first. With his eyes trained on Guillermo de Amores, he took 21 short steps and confidently despatched his spot-kick, setting the tone for a 4-1 shootout win which claimed France their maiden U-20 title. Pogba, as the tournament’s outstanding player, was awarded the adidas Golden Ball.
“I felt really focused,” Pogba later said. “It goes without saying that you need to be at your best in World Cup finals, especially as a lot was expected of us, especially me. Right from the start, I was determined to do well and I’m sure that was obvious from my first few touches. And I was rewarded with the U-20 World Cup trophy and [the] individual award.”
Pogba’s ascent continued from there. A year later, he dazzled during France’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, receiving the FIFA Young Player Award.
He claimed seven more trophies with Juve and led them to the 2015 UEFA Champions League final, before returning to Manchester United in 2016 for a British-record fee. There, he lifted the EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League in a highly-successful first season back.
The defining moment of his career undoubtedly came in 2018. Paired alongside N’Golo Kante, Pogba shone at 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, and netted in the 4-2 final victory over Croatia, as Les Bleus clinched their second crown.
Now back in his homeland with Monaco, the 32-year-old is looking to reinvigorate his career and is eyeing FIFA World Cup 26™ as his chance to add to his 91 caps for the senior side.
