FIFA World Cup: France's Paul Pogba performs Umrah in Mecca during Ramadan

Riyadh, May 24: French midfielder Paul Pogba has posted a video of himself at the holiest site of Islam in Saudi Arabia, as he prepares to join his French squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup next month.

Rabiot does not want to be a standby

"Only the person that comes here can understand the feeling," the 25-year-old Manchester United star said in an Instagram video from the holy city of Mecca. "This a beautiful place -- beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And the feeling... I cannot even explain to you." The Frenchman posted the video of himself standing in front of the Kaaba, a black cube towards which Muslims turn for their five daily prayers.

Pogba, who will be a key member of France's World Cup team in Moscow, made a similar pilgrimage last year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He told the BBC last week that he and his France teammates must approach the World Cup finals with the right mindset, as that counts more than technical ability.

World Cup fixtures" title="France World Cup squad | World Cup fixtures" />France World Cup squad | World Cup fixtures

He also hoped to be the best player at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 14. "I'm going to take the reins of the France team, try to be the boss on and off the pitch," he told Canal+. "I hear it (criticism) a lot. I hope to give my answer on the pitch and show everyone. I was the best young player (in 2014). I hope I'll be the best player overall at the World Cup. That would be great."

Paul Pogba arrives at Clairefontaine for France’s first World Cup training session. 🇫🇷 #mufc [Mail] pic.twitter.com/ByZJ0O1WSm

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) May 23, 2018

The French -- World Cup winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006 -- are in Group C with Denmark, Australia and Peru and kick off their campaign in the Russian city of Kazan against the Australians on June 16.

Away from the World Cup, and despite speculation over his future at Manchester United, Pogba is determined to lift the Champions League with them in what is his second spell there.

Since his move from Italian giants Juventus in 2016, for which Manchester United paid a club-record fee of 89 million pounds ($119 million), Pogba has won Europa and League Cup medals.