Paul Pogba

Paul Labile Pogba (born 15 March 1993) is a French professional footballer who plays for Italian club Juventusand the France national team. He operates primarily as a central midfielder and is comfortable at playing both in attack and defence.^[3]

Pogba was described by his former club Manchester United as a "powerful, skilful, and creative" player who has "an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular."^[4] In Italy, he gained the nicknames Il Polpo Paul ("Paul the Octopus") for his long legs that look like tentacles during tackling or running^[5] and "Pogboom" for his explosive style and energy on the pitch.^[6] These characteristics have led him to be compared with former France international Patrick Vieira.^[7] He received the Golden Boy award for 2013, given to the best under-21 player in Europe, followed by the Bravo Award in 2014, awarded to the best under-23 player who has participated in European competitions.^[8]

Pogba played internationally for France with the national youth football team, representing his nation at all levels for which he was eligible. With the under-16 team, he captained his nation to victories at the Aegean Cup and the Tournoi du Val-de-Marne and, at under-17 level, played at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. At under-20 level, he captained his nation to victory at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and took home the Best Player award for his performances during the tournament. He made his debut for the senior French national team on 22 March 2013 in a 3–1 win against Georgia, and scored his first World Cup goal on 30 June 2014 against Nigeria; he was awarded the Best Young Player Award for his performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, after reaching the quarter-final.^[9]

In January 2014, Pogba was named by The Guardian as one of the ten most promising young players in Europe.^[10]