Forget Diego Maradona’s weaving run against England, Gordon Banks’ save to deny Pelé and *that* Marco Van Basten volley, what happened in Lens the other night trumps everything ever seen on a football pitch.
Or at least that’s what the internet would have you believe.
Paul Pogba, whose every move has been heavily scrutinised since returning to Manchester United for a world record fee in the summer, was back with his national side as they hosted the Ivory Coast.
With ten minutes to go to half-time, Pogba picked up the ball in the opposition’s half and, with one flash of his customised adidas right boot, sprayed a pass out wide to full-back, Lucas Digne.
Don’t get us wrong, it was a lovely pass, Pogba deliberately cutting across the ball with the outside of his foot to curl it from left to right…
https://twitter.com/SportEmperor/status/799222854525063168
…But let’s not forget, it was *just a pass*: from a midfielder to a full-back in yards of space. It didn’t carve open the Ivorian defence and, although aesthetically pleasing, it probably didn’t warrant the absolute wankfest it was met with on Twitter.
pogba…..that pass is worth 200 million
— ωαнєє∂!! (@abdulwahid223) November 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Tamitokpe/status/799011691816226816
https://twitter.com/StubbornManager/status/799120445676998657
Surely, ‘the best pass all season’ should be one that splits a defence and paves the way for a goal, no?
Of course, there was always going to be a couple of Arsenal fans to put things in perspective.
https://twitter.com/jackgriffo86/status/799147931181977600
Pogba makes on good pass and he's what a player ozil does it week in week FFS https://t.co/nd9x3DCI2M
— adamarsenalfc (@adamarsenalfc) November 17, 2016
Pogba was subbed at half-time of the friendly, which finished 0-0.