What Really Happened To The Best Goalkeeper In The World

From being crowned the best goalkeeper in the world to sitting on the bench and eventually being sold, was Edouard Mendy truly a one-season wonder, or is there more to his story? Edouard Mendy's journey is a true rags-to-riches story. At just 7 years old, he joined Le Havre Academy, where stars like Pogba, Payet and Mahrez emerged. The world seemed at his feet, but by 13, another boy took the top goalkeeper spot, leaving Edouard devastated. By 19, he was playing in France's fourth tier with Cherbourg, with little hope for a breakthrough. In his first season, they got promoted despite Mendy not being able to play a single match. After two unremarkable seasons, the tale of his career had only gotten more depressing as Cherbourg would go back to the fourth tier. This enabled Edouard to get some more playing time, but by the end of the season, his contract expired and he was dropped. Released at 22, his agent disappeared, leaving him stranded. Desperate, Edouard tried to secure trials, but no club was interested. With his family expecting a child, he nearly gave up on his dream and prepared for a regular job. But then, an unexpected call came. Marseille offered him a trial as their fourth-choice goalkeeper. Turns out, he was recommended by friend and former teammate Ted Levy. Motivated by his family, Mendy gave it everything in training, leaving the coaches stunned. We couldn't understand why no one had wanted him. At 24, he finally secured his first professional contract. He played the 2015-16 season in Marseille's reserve team. Hungry for a real shot, he took a risk, joining Stade de Reims in the second tier at 25. In the beginning, things didn't go as planned. He managed only eight league appearances and was even sent to the B team. But things took a turn when David Guion was appointed as the new manager and gave him a chance in the first team. It was do or die for Mendy and he didn't disappoint. Mendy kept 18 clean sheets in his 34 appearances throughout the season as the team only conceded 24 goals in the league, the lowest of any team, and 64% less than the year before, and the difference-maker was clear. A 6'4 man with the reflexes of a cat, he helped them secure the League 2 title and therefore earning promotion to the League 1 for the next season. In League 1, Mendy elevated even further. He played in all 38 League 1 games, as newly promoted Rams soared to an eighth-place finish. Mendy kept 14 clean sheets, the third highest of any goalkeeper in the league. From unemployment checks two years ago, Mendy was now the target of a $6 million bid by Rennes. Right from his Rennes debut, Mendy saved a penalty, and his brilliance didn't stop there. Mendy made a name for himself having conceded only 24 goals. Not even the PSG defence of Buffon, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Kimpembe could better this. They scored around half the amount of goals as PSG and still managed a third-place finish to qualify for the Champions League. It was evident who was behind this once again. Mendy was an absolute wall, an outstanding goalkeeper who had gone under the radar for so long that he was already 28 years old. But all was not lost. In 2020, Chelsea had grown increasingly frustrated with the performances of their world-record signing, Kepa Arrizabalaga, an €80 million goalkeeper whose market value had dropped to a mere 15, making him the target of global mockery, with some arguing that he was the worst Premier League goalkeeper of all time, having, at the time, conceded 11 goals from the last 16 shots he had faced. With the recommendation of legendary goalkeeper Peter Cech, now the technical performance advisor, Chelsea went in for Mendy for €24 million. In an interview, Mendy said, From the moment Edouard Mendy stepped into Chelsea's goal, he made it look effortless. He became the first Chelsea goalkeeper since Peter Cech to keep three clean sheets in his first three Premier League matches. By December, Mendy had conceded just five goals in all competitions, and Chelsea were unbeaten. But then came the dip in form. Eight matches, 12 goals conceded and only two wins. Frank Lampard was sacked and Thomas Tuchel took over. Under Tuchel's defensive system, Mendy shined, conceding just one goal in the next 11 matches. Chelsea breezed past Atletico Madrid, and despite a stunning last-minute bicycle kick from Portos Terremi in the quarterfinal's second leg, Mendy held firm as Chelsea went through with a 2-1 aggregate score. Against Real Madrid in the semis, Mendy helped secure a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu to set up a dream Champions League final against Manchester City. Just weeks before the final, Mendy's heroics were on display as he saved an Aguero penalty in a league match against City, a perfect preview of what was to come. However, Chelsea's confidence took a hit when Mendy fell awkwardly on his ribs before the final match of the season. The fans and everyone at the club were in panic. The idea that their goalkeeping maestro could perhaps not be available for the final was a massive upset. But on May 29, 2021, Mendy was ready. Just two years earlier, he had been in France's second division. Now, he was Chelsea's greatest hope against Europe's best team. City dominated possession, but Chelsea's defence held firm. In the 42nd minute, Kai Havertz struck the winner. Chelsea were champions of Europe, and Mendy's story reached its perfect climax. Over that campaign, Mendy equalled the record for most clean sheets in a Champions League season with 9 in 12 matches, conceding just four goals in over 18 hours of football. At the start of the next season, Mendy added the UEFA Super Cup to his trophy cabinet. By November, he was undeniably one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But when the Ballon d'Or shortlist came out, his name was missing. Worse, he lost the Yashin Trophy to Donnarumma. The outrage on social media was enough to clarify what had happened if anyone was still doubting who was the best goalkeeper that year. Mendy didn't stay quiet. In a TV interview, he said, If I had played for France instead of Senegal, would we even have this debate? Justice finally came in January, when FIFA awarded him the Goalkeeper of the Year title. A month later, he won the AFCON with Senegal and returned to help Chelsea lift the Club World Cup, his second trophy in two weeks. Edouard Mendy's story is one of professionalism, perseverance and tireless ambition. From rejection and unemployment to the pinnacle of European and global football, Mendy proved to the world that no dream is too big if you refuse to give up. But the 2022-23 season marked a turning point in Edouard Mendy's Chelsea career. Mistakes began to creep into his game. While Mendy was an excellent shot-stopper, his distribution was inconsistent, sometimes spot-on, other times wildly off-target. Confidence with the ball at his feet became a glaring issue. He was caught out multiple times, leading to costly errors, goals conceded, penalties given away and mounting frustration from fans and coaches alike. With this dip in form, Kepa Arrizabalaga was preferred as Chelsea's starting goalkeeper and Mendy found himself relegated to the bench. Kepa wasn't particularly exceptional either and Mendy briefly reclaimed his spot for a three-game run before suffering a knock and, subsequently, a shoulder injury that sidelined him for 14 matches. When Mendy recovered, Chelsea's struggles were far from over. The team was in terrible form, compounded by managerial changes and the turbulence of the new ownership era. Amidst this chaos, contract renewal talks began in September. Chelsea offered Mendy a six-year deal, but the wages were described as disrespectful, a stark contrast to his contributions during his first two stellar years at the club. Feeling undervalued, Mendy refused to sign and negotiations broke down completely. Therefore, in the summer transfer window, Al-Ali signed Mendy on a three-year contract for a £16m fee. Reports suggest he now earns £9.5m per year, a well-deserved reward for a player who, at 30 years old, knew this would likely be his last major contract. Given all the hardships Mendy endured early in his career, no one can blame him for choosing to secure the bag.