Benjamin Mendy, a member of France’s Russia World Cup-winning squad, has sparked fresh controversy by selling the official replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy in his possession. His decision to auction the keepsake given to players from the winning team has set off wide discussion in football circles.
Mendy put the replica up for sale in the “Global Football Auction Part 2” of the US-based sports memorabilia auction house Goldin. It sold at auction for $62,000, or about €54,000.
The French defender came in for criticism on social media and in various news outlets for selling such a prestigious World Cup keepsake. Unfazed by the criticism, however, he set out his position on Snapchat.
According to Mendy, the trophy is his personal property, so the decision on whether to keep or sell it is entirely his. Addressing his critics, he said no one else had any business commenting on the matter.
He later added, somewhat jokingly, that the trophy had been needlessly taking up space in his cupboard, so he saw no problem in selling it.
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