The “Sorry” Heard ‘Round the World: Paul Pogba’s Tribute to the GOAT

In the theater of international football, the 2018 World Cup Round of 16 clash between France and Argentina remains one of the most electric matches in recent memory. But while the world saw a 4-3 thriller and the ascent of Kylian Mbappé, Paul Pogba has revealed a deeply personal moment that happened once the cameras dimmed.

Pogba’s recent comments offer a rare look into the “Mamba Mentality” of mutual respect between two of the game’s biggest icons. For a player as confident and storied as Pogba to offer his first-ever apology to an opponent speaks volumes about the aura of Lionel Messi.

The “Deserving” Debate: Why Pogba Apologized

Pogba’s logic is rooted in the “cruelty” of the game. By 2018, Messi had endured a grueling cycle of heartbreak:

The Three Finals: The 2014 World Cup Final, followed by back-to-back Copa América final losses in 2015 and 2016.

The Retirement: The brief moment in 2016 when Messi stepped away, overwhelmed by the weight of expectation.

The Return: Coming back to drag an underperforming Argentina squad through qualifying and into the knockout stages of Russia.

“I apologized because he didn’t deserve to lose… He carried Argentina on his own.” — Paul Pogba

The Anatomy of Greatness: Messi’s Burden

Pogba’s assessment that Messi “deserves three World Cups” highlights the narrow margins of football. If a few shots had gone centimeters to the left or right in 2014 or 2015, Messi’s trophy cabinet would have been full long before the 2022 triumph in Qatar.

Why 2022 Was “Normal”

Perhaps the most striking part of Pogba’s tribute is his claim that Messi winning the World Cup in 2022 was “nothing extraordinary.” In Pogba’s view, the extraordinary thing was that Messi hadn’t won it sooner. To the French midfielder, the world was simply returning to its natural order when Messi lifted the gold. It wasn’t a miracle; it was a late delivery of a package that had been addressed to Messi for two decades.

The Respect of a Peer

Pogba highlights a trait that defines Messi as much as his dribbling: Humility.

The Silence: Messi rarely engages in the “GOAT” debate himself.

The Respect: By acknowledging Messi as “the best to ever touch it,” Pogba joins a growing list of legends—including many of his rivals—who have conceded that we are living in the era of Leo.

The Verdict: A Game of Circumstances

Football is often decided by “circumstances”—a tactical error, a missed penalty, or a brilliant young Mbappé. Pogba’s apology was a recognition that while France was the better team that day in 2018, the player on the other side had earned a different fate.

Fortunately for the footballing world, the “circumstances” finally helped in 2022, ensuring that Pogba’s apology is now just a footnote in a story that ended with the ultimate “Road to Glory.”