Paul Pogba will be among the most high-profile names missing from the Euro 2024 scene this summer as France aim for glory.
Pogba once formed one half of international football’s best midfield partnership alongside N’Golo Kanté, but his recent years have been torrid.
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He played a major role in France’s renaissance from their humiliating elimination in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup to their championship title eight years later.
The 31-year-old has been hampered by injuries in recent years which have seen him miss Qatar, with the Blues failing to defend their crown.
However, despite returning to full fitness at the start of this season, Pogba’s future in football is currently in serious doubt.
Why doesn’t Pogba play for France?
Juventus star Pogba is currently serving a four-year ban after failing a doping test while playing for the Old Lady earlier this season.
The midfielder was provisionally suspended in September after testing positive for high levels of testosterone in his system.
The former Manchester United star was randomly tested after Juve’s first match of the season, a 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20.
Pogba was an unused substitute in that match, but made two appearances against Bologna and Empoli before his ban was announced.
The former French international is appealing his long suspension but if the decision is confirmed he will not be able to play until September 2027.
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Even in the unlikely scenario that he is immediately reinstated on appeal, it will not happen in time for him to participate in Euro 2024.
French football journalist Julian Laurens told talkSPORT in February that he did not believe Pogba had intentionally doped.
He said: “I’ve known Paul for a very long time now and I know it’s a cliché but I can say with my hand on my heart that he’s not that kind of guy, he really isn’t. .
“I want to believe him when he said he didn’t know there was testosterone in the supplements he was taking.
“I really want to believe that he didn’t do drugs to get stronger, fitter or better, but then again, I wasn’t there with him to see what he was taking.”
Regarding Pogba’s appeal, Laurens added: “There was a point where sample A was positive and sample B was positive again that there’s really no way out for him.”
