Anthony Martial arrived at Manchester United with high hopes. After emerging at Lyon, he was snapped up by Monaco and then, after scoring 15 senior goals for the French club, the Red Devils made their move.
Beating off competition for his signature, Man United were happy to pay a hefty fee. They spent £36m upfront in cash with three further payments worth £7.2m to be paid if certain conditions were met.
Famously, one of those clauses was not met, though. Man United had agreed to pay an extra chunk if he ever won the Ballon d'Or. In hindsight, it seems absurd but it should not be forgotten that Martial looked to be on the path to stardom at that stage, having been named the Golden Boy in 2015, as the most talented under-21 player.
Interestingly enough, though, the Frenchman actually felt one of his teammates was more likely to win the Ballon d'Or.
Anthony Martial Backed Paul Pogba For Ballon d'Or in 2017
"I would say he is probably the best midfield player in the world"
Speaking in 2017, Martial tipped fellow international and club teammate Paul Pogba to one day be named the best footballer in the world. Predicting that the midfielder would be a Ballon d'Or inside 'the next five years', he explained to MUTV (via ESPN)
"I would say he is probably the best midfield player in the world.
"Paul is very mentally strong and he is very sure of himself.
"He is a big guy, he is very technical on the ball and he has lots of endurance.
"He is still young, too, so he has a lot to work on and he can get even better.
"If he continues to play and improve like he is doing then I think he is also going to win the Ballon d'Or award in the next five years.''
Pogba and Martial
Teams
Total Games
Points per Game
Joint Goal Participations
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Pogba and Martial Disappointed at Man Utd
Both now playing for new teams
In 2015, Pogba actually managed a 15th-place finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings, and went one step further in 2016 as he ranked 14th. However, this would prove to be the best he ever managed.
The Frenchman had looked destined for the top before returning to Man United, having first left after a spell as a youth player in 2012. He'd won Serie A four times with Juventus but struggled to replicate that form in England.
Although both he and Martial won the Europa League and League Cup together, they each failed to deliver the goods on a consistent basis. In particular, injuries held the latter back from fulfilling his potential.
Pogba showed glimpses of his best self, and even won the 2018 World Cup with France (Martial wasn't involved), but will ultimately be remembered as a disappointment for his time at Old Trafford. He left in 2022, returning to Juventus, before being hit with a four-year ban doping ban, which was later reduced to 18 months. As of 2025, Pogba is now playing for Monaco in his native France.
Martial left Man United in 2024, joining Greek side AEK Athens. His quality has been apparent there too, with nine goals in 23 games since. However, he's been in and out of the team, and could be sold this summer due to his high wages.
Considering both men were once realistic shouts as future Ballon d'Or winners, it is fair to say neither truly lived up to the lofty expectations set on them in their youth.
Stats via Transfermarkt