Paul Pogba: Juventus Star Sends Ramadan Message to Muslims Amid Doping Ban

• Paul Pogba is serving a four-year doping ban, which will run until 2027
• The Juventus star tested for high levels of testosterone in September
• The banned footballer has a Ramadan message for fellow Muslims

Paul Pogba has joined the Muslim faithful worldwide to begin the fasting of the holy month of Ramadan and has a message for people who share the faith.

The holy month could not have come at a better time for the footballer, who is going through a trying time after he was banned from the sport for four years due to doping.

Pogba, since he returned to Juventus in 2022, has struggled with one issue or the other. In his first year, he dealt with injuries that saw him play for only 172 minutes.

Pogba sends Ramadan message to Muslims

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The former Manchester United star is a practising Muslim. As the people of the religion begin their yearly fast, he took to his Instagram page and shared a photo of himself praying with the caption, Ramadan Kareem.

He is one of the prominent Muslim footballers in the world, including Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Mesut Ozil, Mohamed Elneny, and Antonio Rudiger, among others.

Why did Pogba convert to Islam?

The 30-year-old bears the name of one of Christianity's greatest apostles, Paul, yet is a Muslim - two very opposite combinations which have left some fans confused.

Though his mother was a Muslim, he was not raised as one and instead had no association during his early years, but some moments in his life and people around him helped him convert.

"It came because I have a lot of friends who are Muslim. We always talk. I was questioning myself about a lot of things, then I started doing my own research. I prayed once with my friends, and I felt something different. I felt really good," he told the Times’ Lifestyle Podcast.

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He frequently visits the pilgrimage city of Mecca and was recently there in July 2023 when there were rumours he was discussing joining a Saudi Pro League club.

Pogba breaks silence after doping ban

Sports Brief also reported that Pogba released a statement on Instagram after his doping ban was confirmed after a second confirmatory test returned a positive result.

The 2018 World Cup winner has strongly denied ever engaging in the prohibited act and disclosed his next course of action, which is to appeal and prove his innocence.