Benjamin Mendy World Cup Medal Sold: Benjamin Mendy, a former French international defender and member of the 2018 World Cup-winning squad, has made a surprising decision. The 32-year-old footballer has auctioned off the official World Cup winner's medal he earned with France in 2018.
The medal was sold for approximately €46,000 (around ₹50 lakh) through the auction house Goldin. This auction has sparked a new debate among football fans and the sports community.
Legal Battle Cripples Finances
Mendy, who reached the pinnacle of his football career by lifting the World Cup trophy in 2018, has seen his life plunge into a financial quagmire due to a protracted legal battle. He had to fight a long legal struggle to clear his name after facing eight serious charges of rape in 2021.
In his effort to clear his name in court, Mendy suffered massive financial losses, forced to sell his house, supercars, and luxury watches—resulting in a loss of over ₹13 crore. To avoid bankruptcy, he even put his Cheshire home up for sale at a price of approximately ₹64 crore.
The painful journey from being the most expensive defender to playing in Poland
Mendy's football career has been marked by significant ups and downs. After shining at Le Havre, Marseille, and Monaco, Mendy joined Manchester City in the summer of 2017 for a massive fee of €58 million, becoming the world's most expensive defender.
However, his career came to a complete standstill in 2021 following allegations of rape. After a two-year ban and time spent in prison, he was fully acquitted of all charges by the court in July 2023.
After receiving legal clearance, he attempted a comeback with clubs like Lorient and Zurich but failed to regain his old form. Eventually, in September 2025, he joined the Polish club Pogoń Szczecin, where he is living a quiet, low-profile life following a significant pay cut.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Mendy played his last international match for France in 2019 during a European Championship qualifier against Albania.
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