Paul Pogba, a midfielder for France, will miss the 2018 World Cup as he works through his recovery from a knee injury sustained in July.
Pogba tore his meniscus in preseason in July, so he hasn’t played for Juventus since returning this summer.
With only three weeks to get back into shape, France plays Australia in their tournament opener on November 22 in Qatar.
Following yesterday’s and today’s medical reviews in Torino and Pittsburgh, Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta issued the following statement: “It is really sad to inform Paul will still need recuperation time from his surgery. Paul won’t be able to travel to Qatar with the French National Team or the Juventus team before the World Cup break due to this.
“Paul would be playing tomorrow if thinking positively could make a difference. Hard effort, resiliency, and discipline, however—which are the only things on Paul’s mind during these trying times—are what alter circumstances. Paul will keep working hard and do all in his power to be back on the field as soon as possible for the fans and his club.”
In an update on his condition on Monday, Juventus said: “Paul Pogba needs to continue his rehabilitation program in light of the recent radiological scans and the consultation carried out in Pittsburgh by Professor Volker Musahl for the evaluation of his knee.”
In a video shared on Twitter last month, the midfielder stated that he had successfully had surgery for a knee ailment and said that he is continuing to maintain his mental strength despite rumors about his personal life.
The Frenchman, who has missed 59 games for club and country since the beginning of last season, takes the most recent development as a blow.
Given the recent news that N’Golo Kante will miss the competition after undergoing surgery for a hamstring ailment, it also means that France manager Didier Deschamps will be missing both of the central midfielders who started the World Cup final in Russia four years ago.