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- Paul Pogba removed a bottle of alcohol-free Heineken from his table at a Euro 2020 press conference.
- It comes just a day after Cristiano Ronaldo removed Coca-Cola bottles from a press conference.
- Midfielder Pogba spoke to the press after France beat Germany 1-0 in Munich Tuesday night.
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France star Paul Pogba opted to remove a bottle of Heineken beer from his table at a press conference followinghis country's win over Germany at Euro 2020.
It comes just a day after Cristiano Ronaldo had done the same with two bottles of Coca-Cola prior to Portugal's 3-0 victory over Hungary.
Pogba, a devout Muslim, took the bottle of Heineken and placed it on the floor before speaking to the press on Tuesday. Drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam.
The bottle Pogba removed was actually a non-alcoholic Heineken, though it is unclear as to whether he knew that at the time, as the drink's branding is similar to regular Heineken.
Pogba made no remark as he moved the Heineken, unlike Ronaldo, who scoffed as he removed the Coca-Cola bottles from his table on Monday.
The Juventus forward, who is known for his strict diet, said "Coca-Cola, ugh" in apparent disgust, choosing instead to drink from a bottle of water.
Markets Insider noted Wednesday morning that the 36-year-old's stunt coincided with Coca-Cola's shares dipping in value by 1.6%, which equates to a market value drop of approximately $4 billion.
Coca-Cola responded to Ronaldo in a statement on Tuesday, saying: "Everyone is entitled to their drink preferences."
Pogba also had two bottles of Coke in front of him, but left them untouched.
-Goal (@goal) June 16, 2021
Pogba, who was voted Man of the Match as France beat Germany 1-0 courtesy of a calamitous own goal from defender Mats Hummels, converted to Islam in 2019.
"Islam is not the image that everyone sees, terrorism," Pogba told The London Times' "Life Times" podcast in 2019. "What we hear in the media is really something else. It's something beautiful."
"It made me change, realise things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside," he added.
"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.
"Islam is just this - respect of the humanity and everything."
After the Germany game Tuesday, Pogba also accused German defender Antonio Rüdiger of biting him during the match, saying that Rüdiger "nibbled" him in a strange incident in the first half.
Video of the moment appears to show Rüdiger placing his open mouth on Pogba's shoulder.
"He nibbled, I think, a little bit on me. But we have known each other for a long time," Pogba said.
