Sports 1 August 2026

Benjamin Mendy sold his World Cup trophy for €54,000 and shrugged off the backlash

Benjamin Mendy auctioned his official replica of the 2018 World Cup trophy along with his winner's ring. The replica drew 38 bids and sold for €54,000; the former France international stood by it.

Some trophies live in a cabinet forever and some go under the hammer. Benjamin Mendy picked the second option, auctioning his official replica of the 2018 World Cup he won with France in Moscow, along with the winner’s ring FIFA hands to the champions.

How much did Mendy’s World Cup trophy sell for?

€54,000, after 38 bids. The auction closed on 25 July, days after the 2026 World Cup finished, which helped pull in attention — and criticism.

Was it the real trophy?

No, and plenty of people skipped that distinction. The original never leaves FIFA’s possession; what the champions take home is an official gold-plated replica. The piece sold came with a certificate of authenticity signed by Mendy himself, an engraving marking the Moscow final and the 4-2 win over Croatia, light signs of use and a small crack in the base.

How did people react?

Harshly, predictably. For a good share of fans and former players, the replica belongs in the category of things you simply do not sell, whatever the price. Mendy neither dodged it nor apologised: he said publicly that the trophy is his and he does what he likes with it, adding that it was taking up too much room in his cupboard.

Some context is worth keeping. The former left-back has spent recent years in court and in a wage dispute with Manchester City, and sports memorabilia is a genuine market where collectors pay serious money for objects with a story attached. None of that obliges anyone to like the decision, but it explains why it has a price. FIFA sets out the official detail on the trophy and the replicas given to champions on its own site, and the 2026 cup ended up elsewhere — Spain closed out the tournament in the final against Argentina.

By Vasco Almada

Image: Антон Зайцев / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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