From €58m defender to auction block: Mendy's World Cup replica sells

In a quiet auction hall in the United States, former France defender Benjamin Mendy watched as his official World Cup replica fetched $62,200, a stark contrast to the €58 million fee that once made him the costliest defender in history in world football.

Benjamin Mendy was part of the France squad that lifted the World Cup in Russia in 2018, earning the title of world champion.

In 2017 Manchester City paid €58 million to sign Mendy, making him the most expensive defender ever at that time.

A series of sexual‑assault allegations emerged in 2021; Mendy was later acquitted, and the accusations effectively halted his career that year.

Benjamin Mendy puts World Cup replica up for $62,200 US auction

After his acquittal, Mendy returned to the pitch wearing Lorient’s shirt in 2023, then had a stint with FC Zürich before joining Polish side Pogon Szczecin.

Sportune reported that the replica was offered at a Goldin auction in the United States as part of the Global Football Auction Part 2, attracting hundreds of bids before a buyer secured it for $62,200.

The trophy replica measures 38 cm high, 15 cm wide and 10 cm deep, bears a commemorative inscription, shows a crack in its base, and includes an authenticity certificate signed by Mendy, who was present at the auction.

The sale underscores how far Mendy’s fortunes have shifted from the heights of a €58 million transfer and World Cup glory to the modest reality of auctioning a personal trophy.