Paul Pogba has been left out of AS Monaco's Champions League squad for the latter stages of the competition, amid ongoing recovery from a calf injury. The 32-year-old Frenchman, who joined Monaco in June 2025 after a reduced doping ban, has played just 30 minutes this season. Monaco will face Paris Saint-Germain in the play-offs without him.
Paul Pogba's challenging career trajectory took another downturn on February 5, 2026, when AS Monaco announced their Champions League squad, excluding the former Manchester United midfielder. Pogba, who left Old Trafford as a free agent in June 2022 before rejoining Juventus, faced a series of setbacks including injuries and an initial four-year doping ban that was reduced to 18 months. This allowed his return to professional football with Monaco last summer, but fitness issues have limited him severely.
Since suffering a left calf injury over two and a half months ago, Pogba has appeared for only 30 minutes in Ligue 1 this season. Monaco director Thiago Scuro addressed the situation, stating: “Medical staff is focused on finding solutions, first so that he returns to the field before the matches. Paul continues to recover from his calf injury.” The club has no clear timeline for his return, highlighting the risks of signing the 2018 World Cup winner.
In the squad update, Monaco added defender Wout Faes, winger Simon Adingra, and forward Krépin Diatta, compensating for Pogba's absence. The team, sitting 10th in Ligue 1 after 20 matches, faces Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League play-offs but will proceed without Pogba's involvement in the European competition. This omission underscores Monaco's inconsistent domestic form and Pogba's struggle to regain match fitness.
