Did Benjamin Mendy win the World Cup?

BenjeminMemdy’s footballing dreams came true five years ago when he won the World Cup with France – just days before his 24th birthday.

The left-back, who came from humble beginnings in the suburbs of Paris, lifted football’s most coveted trophy alongside stars like Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbbape. Just weeks before that, he had won the Premier League with Mancher City in his first season with the club.

It capped a remarkable first chapter in the former Monaco player’s career and, with both his country and club side seemingly approaching the peak of their powers, so too did Mendy.

He appeared to have it all. A stunning £ 4.8 million Cheshire pad with all the features one could want, including a swimming pool and cinema room bought with his £100,000-a-week salary.

Yet his life of luxury and playboy living all game to a crashing halt. Before the next World Cup in Qatar came around, Mendy was in prison earning just £ 4 a day in food allowance.

The ex-City star’s name has since been cleared after two Crown Court trials – yet his reputation lies in tatters and his footballing future unclear.

Mendy cut a jovial figure at his trial, though his outward emotions were not an indication of the gravity of his situation. He shared a joke with court security staff as he made his way inside Chester Crown Court.