One of Manchester United's star players is the definition of #MuslimGoals - and he recently gave fans a taste of his faithfulness.
Paul Pogba, a French-Muslim footballer, revealed how his Muslim faith has made him a "better person." The Manchester United midfielder talked about his personal connection to Islam in a >podcast with The Times' LifeTimes. Though his mother was a practicing Muslim, the footballer was not raised to be one. Pogba connected with the religion as an adult.
"It came because I have a lot of friends who are Muslim. We always talk. I was questioning myself in a lot of things, then I started doing my own research," he said.
"I prayed once with my friends and I felt something different. I felt really good."
"Since that day I just carried on. You have to pray five times a day, that's one of the pillars of Islam. It's something that you do. The meaning why you do it, you ask forgiveness and be thankful for everything you have, like my health and everything," he added.
Pogba has flaunted his dedication and commitment to his faith on multiple occasions.
In 2017, just days after Manchester United grabbed the UEFA Europa League title, the footballer >headed to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah - the minor pilgrimage to Mecca. He documented the pilgrimage on social media, and posted a video of himself standing in front of the Kaaba donning the traditional white garb worn by Muslim men during the pilgrimage. Last month, the footballer was also pictured on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
He became faithful to Islam after going through some ">difficult personal times," according to The Independent.
"It made me change, realize things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside. It was a good change in my life because I wasn't born a Muslim, even if my mum was. I just grew up like that, respect for everyone."
The footballer addressed Islamophobia and how the religion is not what the media makes it out to be.
"What we hear in the media is really something else. It's something beautiful."
"It's really a religion that opened my mind and that makes me, maybe, a better person. You think more about the afterlife. This life has a test. Like when I'm with you, here. Even if you're not a Muslim, you are a normal human. You have a human relationship and respect you for who you are, what religion you are, what color and everything."
"Islam is just this – respect of humanity and everything."