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Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit lost all his winner’s medals, including for the World Cup – but has an expensive replica trophy worth over £1million in his safe.
The midfield icon was a key part of France‘s 1998 squad that won the tournament in Paris, even scoring in the 3-0 final victory over Brazil.
But not all his memories have been preserved. The former Chelsea, Barcelona, and Monaco ace revealed the gutting news on Paul Scholes‘ The Good, The Bad and The Football Podcast (via The Sun).
Chatting to Scholes and ex-Manchester United man Nicky Butt – as well as host Paddy McGuinness – Petit was asked if he ever looked back at his medals.
He replied: “I know why you’re asking that. You heard.”
Scholes, slightly surprised, said he was simply jealous and curious, only for Petit to shock the room.
He admitted: “I lost it.”
After a gasp from the others, he launched into the tale of how he mislaid his prize possessions.
Petit, 55, said: “Ah, come on guys. It p***ed me off so much, you have no idea.
“I tried to find them because I moved so many times in the last five, six years.”
Scholes commented: “I feel so sad for you, I really, honestly, Manu, I didn’t know. I really didn’t know.”
Also Read: World Cup 2026: Petit Questions Saka’s Influence In England Squad
And Petit continued: “Last December I did something, it was a signing session. Pictures and things in Paris.
“And the guys who organised that, at the end he said: ‘Do you still have items? Shirts or things like this?’
“I said: ‘No, I gave everything to charity.’ [He said]: ‘What about medals or trophies, things like this?’
“I said: ‘Yeah, I have the World Cup trophy, European trophy at home.’
“He said: ‘What? At home?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘You have no idea how much it costs on the market. That could be probably between one and two million.’
“I said: ‘What? Are you serious?’ He said: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ The market has been huge now for 10, 15 years.
“I came back home, I took the trophy and I went to the bank and put it in a safe.
“And I wanted to do the same with the medals. And I was looking for hours, where are they?
“I was becoming crazy. Premier League medals, Ligue 1 medals, FA Cup, French Cup, things like this.
“Everything’s gone. World Cup, European Cup, everything.”
Petit, won six major honours in his distinguished career. He played 140 Prem matches and was part of Arsene Wenger’s French revolution at Arsenal.
