Disbelief As Mystery French Player Auctions Off 2018 World Cup Medal

The memorabilia, medals and trophies won over the course of an athlete’s career are presumably what makes the sacrifices, injuries and hard work all worthwhile.

They supposedly remind and are an affirmation for many sportsmen and women after their careers are over, that all they had to endure was well worth it. The evidence of how good they were and how they conquered all in their path.

Well, that sentimental mushy stuff is not for everyone apparently after it emerged that a player in the victorious French national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia has sold his winners medal for $71,875 at an auction.

The medal was one among a collection of sports memorabilia that included a pair of match-worn R9 boots that were sold at the “Sports Legends” auction curated by Julien’s Auctions.

The news was greeted by disbelief on Twitter with fans at a loss to explain why a footballer would flog a piece of history for what essentially amounts to peanuts for top-level players.

While footballers and celebrities have routinely auctioned off items of value mostly for charity and humanitarian causes, there is no indication that it was the case in this instance.

The move left many scratching their heads and fueled speculation as to the identity of the mystery Les Blues player.

Could it have been a member of the backroom staff or a player who was in the squad but didn’t see a minute’s action? Moussa Dembele or Benjamin Mendy perhaps?

Some wondered who former Liverpool player-turned pundit Graeme Souness would be thinking.

Yet many others were more concerned about the identity of the buyer.

For some, it is a sign of the sorry state of football

Some just couldn’t wrap their head around the inappropriateness of it all.