09/08/2026
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. ๐
Now, though, he's living a very different life. His world was turned upside down when he was hit with ten charges of r**e, attempted r**e 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. ๐ธ
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 ยฃ46,270, with the coveted item attracting 38 bids before going under the hammer.
Nowadays, he is thought to be living a much quieter life in Poland, three years on from the conclusion of his court case.
The defender earned around ยฃ500,000 per month at City but is now taking home just ยฃ10,000 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.
Mendy lives in Szczecin, a major city in northwestern Poland, and has reportedly been spotted by locals pushing a shopping trolley around a supermarket. ๐ต๐ฑ
He is thought to be viewed as a mentor figure by younger players and is said to regularly take part in community initiatives.
LIFE ๐ข
