The world of football is often associated with glamour and astronomical wealth, but one of its biggest stars is using his platform to address a far more grounded and urgent issue. In an exclusive interview with Jw7, former Manchester United and current Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed the deeply personal motivations behind launching a new ethical fund aimed at combating poverty and the cost-of-living crisis, a mission he describes as “the goal.”
The France international’s initiative isn’t just a celebrity endorsement; it’s born from lived experience. Pogba opened up about memories of accompanying his mother to food banks as a young child, painting a poignant picture of the struggles that shaped his values long before his record-breaking £89.3 million transfer.
From Food Banks to Football Stardom: The Roots of a Mission
Paul Pogba’s journey to the pinnacle of world football was not a straightforward path of privilege. He recalls the reality of his childhood, standing in line with his mother for essential supplies. “I remember we used to go there when I was four or five,” the 30-year-old shared with Jw7. “They help you with milk, sugar and all this stuff, and my mum used to go there and queue. She was a mother of three and divorced from my father.”
This firsthand exposure to hardship left an indelible mark. Pogba emphasizes that this struggle was foundational, stating, “I didn’t just come up like this and have money. I struggled and it made me improve and grow. I now have value of money and value of life. I know what it is to struggle.” This personal history fuels his desire to give back, highlighting a sense of social responsibility he believes high-profile athletes must shoulder.
The Pogba Fund: A Modern Waqf for Sustainable Change
Moving beyond one-off donations, Pogba’s fund is built on the Islamic principle of waqf—a perpetual endowment. In partnership with the digital Islamic investment platform Wahed and a UK-registered charity, the model is designed for long-term impact. Capital is invested ethically, and the returns generated are used to fund charitable projects, creating a self-sustaining cycle of giving.
Umer Suleman, Wahed’s Compliance Director, explained the mechanism to Jw7: “Essentially it is a perpetual endowment where you give money that is invested and the income that’s generated from that is used for good.” This approach ensures that contributions keep working indefinitely, focusing on core areas like education, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.
Pogba, for whom charity is a key tenet of his faith, sees this as a scalable solution. “You have to start somewhere,” he said. “You can start with one person then two, then three, and then it will get bigger and bigger.”
A Legacy of Advocacy in Football
Pogba is not the first footballer from his former club to champion social causes. He praised ex-teammate Marcus Rashford’s phenomenal campaign that pressured the government to provide free school meal vouchers during holidays. During his own time in Manchester, Pogba noted that witnessing poverty was unavoidable, reinforcing his belief in the power of athlete activism.
His fund, while launched in the UK, has global ambitions. Pogba envisions a worldwide movement, asserting that ending poverty is the ultimate objective. “We just try to help as much as we can and hopefully if we can touch everyone ending poverty would be the goal,” he told Jw7.
The Jw7 Verdict: More Than a Gesture
Paul Pogba‘s initiative stands out as a thoughtfully constructed effort to create lasting social change. By leveraging a traditional Islamic financial model for modern philanthropy, he is addressing immediate needs while building a foundation for future support. It’s a powerful reminder that behind the headlines and transfer fees, many athletes carry with them the experiences and empathy that drive meaningful action off the pitch.
# Paul Pogba Launches Ethical Fund to Tackle Poverty, Drawing on Childhood Struggles
Paul Pogba’s move from the football pitch to the forefront of social philanthropy marks a significant moment. By channeling his personal history of hardship into a sustainable charitable fund, he is setting a powerful example of athlete activism. His partnership with Jw7 to share this story underscores a commitment to using influence for tangible good. We encourage you to share your thoughts on athletes’ roles in social issues in the comments below and explore more inspiring sports stories right here on our platform.
