World Cup winner responds after selling trophy online

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FT Desk

Benjamin Mendy has caused a bit of a stir online after selling a piece of World Cup memorabilia.

The former Manchester City striker announced to his social media followers that he has sold his replica World Cup trophy for €54,000 and received criticism, as many fans felt that it was a sentimental piece of his career that was priceless.

However, he's hit back at the negative feedback, saying: "But is it my cup or is it your cup? By the way, it's mine. It's my cup; I do what I want with it.

"And, in addition, it took up too much space in the closet."

He even suggested he could sell more career memorabilia in the future.

Mendy was part of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup, emerging victorious after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

La story Snapchat de Benjamin Mendy sur la vente de sa réplique de la Coupe du monde 🇫🇷🤣 :

« Mais c’est ma coupe ou c votre coupe ? Au fait elle est à moi, C MA COUPE.

J’EN FAIS CE QUE JE VEUX

Et si ya draaa jsuis tjr dispo

Et en plus elle prenez trop de place dans le… https://t.co/DnKw7rT7CO pic.twitter.com/nzqazd9dU5

— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) July 31, 2026

The 32 year old's career was derailed in 2021 when he was charged with a series of sexual offences in England relating to alleged incidents between 2018 and 2021. The Frenchman denied all of the allegations, insisting throughout the legal process that any sexual encounters had been consensual.

At his first trial, Mendy faced eight counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault involving six complainants. During the proceedings, one rape charge was dropped after prosecutors offered no evidence. In January 2023, the jury found him not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault but was unable to reach verdicts on one remaining rape charge and one count of attempted rape.

A retrial was held later in 2023 to consider the two unresolved charges. In July, Mendy was found not guilty of both the remaining rape allegation and the attempted rape charge, meaning he was acquitted of every criminal offence he had faced.

Following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, Mendy brought an employment tribunal claim against Man City over wages that had been withheld after he was charged. The tribunal ruled that he was entitled to recover the majority of his unpaid salary, although the club was not required to pay him for the period he spent in custody.

As of 2026, he is playing his football in Poland with Pogon Szczecin.