How Muhammad Ali has influenced Paul Pogba

We encourage all of our fans to read the Frenchman’s Q&A below, in which he speaks candidly about the racist abuse his parents endured and why he is so determined to affect change. Pogba also opens up on converting to Islam and the positive impact it has had on his life, just like his idol Ali.

Footballers are heroes to millions, but, growing up, who was your hero?

“Muhammad Ali. He was someone that I think kind of saved lives. A hero is somebody that saves lives, that helps people, and I think that is what he did. He saved a lot of people, but not by taking somebody out of the fire, but just by giving a good message, helping the world, saying the truth when it was difficult to say, at a time…