Paul Pogba Manchester UnitedGetty Images

Pogba only named 31st best player in the world

Manchester United's €105 million man Paul Pogba has only placed 31st in the 2017 Goal 50.

The France international rejoined the English outfit last summer for a then world-record fee, four years after leaving for Juventus on a free transfer.

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Paul Pogba Manchester UnitedGetty Images

Pogba lifted two major trophies during his first season back at Old Trafford, helping Jose Mourinho's side win the League Cup and the Europa League. This secured a return to the Champions League, with United having only finished sixth in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old racked up nine goals and six assists in 51 appearances in all competitions but while his manager lashed out at football's "Einsteins" for expecting too much from Pogba and writing him off too quickly, several pundits and former players criticised his positioning and defensive discipline during the 2016-17 campaign.

Our Goal 50 judges agreed that the Frenchman's return to Manchester has, thus far, been a mixed bag, with Pogba failing to crack the top 30, a disappointing result for a player who finished 15th last year and ninth in 2015.

So, which players finished above the midfielder? Find out when the full Goal 50 list is published at 1200 UK time on Tuesday!

The Goal 50 is an annual award that both recognises and ranks the world's 50 best footballers of the preceding 12 months. Chief editors and correspondents from Goal's 37 editions around the world all cast their votes, with candidates judged on their level of consistency over the previous year of action, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their teams at both club and international level.

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