Paul Pogba was given a raucous reception by chanting France supporters in Dusseldorf as he made a rare public appearance ahead of his nation's Euro 2024 last-16 tie against Belgium.<br /><br />The former Manchester United midfielder - who departed Old Trafford in 2022 - has largely remained out of the public domain ever since testing positive for a banned substance in September last year.<br /><br />However, Pogba decided to show his support for Didier Deschamps' squad after accepting an invitation from the French national team for the knockout encounter.<br /><br />Ahead of kick-off, the World Cup winner with France in 2018 attended the official fan zone where he interacted with thousands of Les Blues supporters that had gathered in the western German city.<br /><br />Despite being locked in an ongoing fight to save his career after being hit with a four-year ban following the positive drug test, Pogba looked in good spirits on Monday and remains a favorite amongst France fans.<br /><br />The 31-year-old was previously one of the most popular figures in the French dressing room and played an influential part in their World Cup triumph in Russia six years ago.<br /><br />He also won the UEFA Nations League with his country and received a silver medal from Euro 2016 when France was beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal during the final in Paris.<br /><br />He was regularly trusted to lead France's midfield by the manager, Deschamps, and was recognized as one of world football's best playmakers before failing the aforementioned doping test.<br /><br />A video shared on social media ahead of France's last-16 contest shows Pogba filming himself in front of an army of delighted supporters that are bouncing around while chanting his name.<br /><br />Repetitive shouts of 'Paulo Pogba' were heard as he beamed while being serenaded by fans who are expecting France to beat Belgium and progress to the quarter-finals.<br /><br />Pogba was dressed in an all-black ensemble and sported braids as he grinned while filming himself on the stage inside the fan zone.<br /><br />The former Man United star has decided he wants to show his support for his former France team-mates despite the allegations that continue to shroud his career.<br /><br />Pogba, who is privately acknowledging he made an unknowing mistake in accepting a course of pills that resulted in his positive test for DHEA, wants to resume his playing career once the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing against a four-year suspension has been heard.
