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| Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba |
French midfielder Paul Pogba has shared an emotional account of how football icon Cristiano Ronaldo reached out to support him during one of the most painful periods of his professional career.
Pogba, whose football journey has been filled with both incredible success and difficult setbacks, opened up on the emotional isolation he experienced after news of his suspension became public. According to the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder, the reaction from many people around him changed almost immediately after the headlines surfaced
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner explained that his phone was flooded with messages at first, but the attention quickly faded away.
“When the suspension news came out, my phone was full for two days… then suddenly, silence,” Pogba revealed.
He described the painful reality of seeing relationships disappear during difficult times, saying football often creates temporary loyalty around success and fame.
“People I thought were brothers disappeared. Agents stopped calling. Friends became busy. Football can make you feel loved… but it can also show you who’s real.”
Pogba’s comments offer a deeper look into the mental and emotional struggles many professional athletes face behind the scenes — especially during periods of controversy, injuries, or career uncertainty. While football fans often focus only on performances and headlines, players can quietly battle loneliness, pressure, criticism, and emotional exhaustion away from the public eye.
Amid that difficult period, Pogba said one unexpected call changed his perspective completely — a call from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar, known globally for his discipline, winning mentality, and record-breaking achievements, reportedly approached the situation not as a teammate or celebrity, but simply as a human being concerned about another person’s wellbeing.
According to Pogba, Ronaldo did not call to discuss football matters, media criticism, training, or career plans. Instead, his focus was entirely personal.
“He didn’t call me to talk about football, training, or headlines. He asked me one thing… ‘How is your family? Are you okay mentally?’ That hit me differently.”
The midfielder admitted that the conversation touched him deeply because it came during a period when he felt abandoned by many people within football circles.
Pogba further revealed that Ronaldo later extended genuine support beyond words, encouraging him not to allow pride to stop him from accepting help.
“A few days later he told me, ‘If you need anything — anything for your family, your recovery, your life — call me. Pride should never stop you from accepting help.’”
The statement has since generated strong reactions from football fans across social media, with many praising Ronaldo’s character and leadership off the pitch. While the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus forward is often celebrated for his achievements, goals, and trophies, Pogba’s revelation has highlighted another side of the football legend rarely seen publicly.
Pogba stressed that the moment changed how he viewed certain relationships in football, especially during hardship.
“At that moment, I wasn’t talking to Cristiano Ronaldo the superstar… I was talking to a man who understood pain, pressure, and loneliness.”
The emotional comments have sparked broader discussions about mental health in football and the importance of genuine support systems for athletes during difficult periods. Many fans and analysts have noted that moments of adversity often reveal the true nature of friendships within professional sports.
Pogba concluded by acknowledging that while he has shared dressing rooms with many elite footballers throughout his career, difficult moments expose the people who truly care beyond fame and success.
“I’ve played with champions before… but in hard times, you discover who the real ones are.”
