Inside Benjamin Mendy's life now after selling World Cup trophy and quitting UK
· Archie Griggs · 2026-08-09 · nguồn gốc
Inside Benjamin Mendy's life now after selling World Cup trophy for £46k and quitting UK
Benjamin Mendy is living a new life abroad after turning his back on English football.
Once upon a time, Benjamin Mendy was one of the most coveted left-backs in Europe, playing at the highest level for Manchester City and winning the World Cup with France. Now, though, he's living a very different life. His world was turned upside down when he was hit with ten charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, sparking a three-year court ordeal.
Mendy was acquitted of all charges against him in 2023, shortly after being released by City at the end of his contract. He has had a journeyman career since then, initially joining Lorient before moving to FC Zurich the following year. In 2025, the defender joined Polish outfit Pogon Szczecin, but he only made 12 appearances in all competitions last season.
His court case took a huge hit on his finances, forcing him to list his Cheshire mansion for sale in a desperate attempt to avoid bankruptcy.
Now, the 32-year-old has sold another of his prized possessions in the form of the replica World Cup trophy commemorating France's victory in 2018.
Mendy auctioned it off for a price of £46,270, with the coveted item attracting 38 bids before going under the hammer.
The trophy, described as damaged with a crack at the base, came with a certificate signed by Mendy to prove its authenticity. Every member of the squad received a replica of the iconic golden trophy to add to their own personal collection.
It comes just months after it was revealed that Mendy was living a much quieter life in Poland, three years on from the conclusion of his court case.
He earned around £500,000 per month at City but is now taking home just £10,000 every four weeks at Pogon Szczecin. While that is a tidy sum for the majority of regular working people, it is essentially chump change for a top-level footballer.
However, the former France international did take home over £11million in unpaid wages after winning a legal battle against City in 2024. They were found to have wrongly blocked his salary while he was facing court charges.
Mendy now lives in Szczecin, a major city in northwestern Poland, and has been spotted by locals pushing a shopping trolley around a supermarket, according to The Sun.
He is reportedly viewed as a mentor figure by younger players and is said to regularly take part in community initiatives.
Polish football analyst Patryk Jurys explained: "I don’t think he’s a loud person anymore. He just looks like a normal member of the club.
"He’s often used in marketing activities. He doesn’t play much, so the club uses him in different ways off the pitch."
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