France star Paul Pogba scored a vital goal and then led the riotous French celebrations after his team’s World Cup win over Croatia.
The Manchester United midfielder “danced and celebrated long into the night” after the game, says the Daily Mail.
“Pogba answered many of his critics with an outstanding performance at the Luzhniki Stadium to cap an excellent tournament and was only too happy to parade the famous trophy on his social media accounts.”
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He even filmed himself singing ‘It’s coming home’, before apologising to England fans, and played a part in the invasion of the post-match press conference during which coach Didier Deschamps was showered with champagne.
He also provided “one of the images of the tournament during the festivities”, says the Daily Telegraph.
“Enjoying the moment alongside his mother Yeo, and brothers Mathias and Florentin, Pogba and family 'dabbed' in unison alongside the famous gold trophy.”
“He certainly enjoyed it. He enjoys every aspect of life, so he was not going to let this one pass him by,” says Oliver Kay of The Times.
“He was the dominant figure in France’s celebrations on the pitch, standing at the front of the trophy presentations as if conducting an orchestra. He shared their dressing-room scenes with a video that went out live to his 25.3 million followers on Instagram. He even ‘dabbed’ with President Macron. Yes, it was the ultimate millennial celebration from one of the ultimate millennial footballers.”
The challenge now for the enigmatic Pogba is to stay on top of the world.
“Pogba added some diligent defensive work to his goal to cap a fine individual performance and a successful World Cup campaign,” says the London Evening Standard. “The midfielder has now won the biggest prize in football, but his form in Russia has contrasted with some mixed displays since moving back to Old Trafford in 2016.”
And his performance has “led pundits to ask why Didier Deschamps seems able to get a quality out of him that his club manager Jose Mourinho cannot”, reports the Daily Mail.
Even the usually critical Roy Keane was impressed. “I don’t mind Pogba dancing now,” he said on ITV. “He’s entitled to have a dance there. He can do whatever he wants with his hair.”
Rio Ferdinand on the BBC that the pressure was now on Mourinho to “unlock” Pogba’s talent at Old Trafford.
