The first player to win the FIFA World Cup while signed for Manchester City was left-back Benjamin Mendy, who, more recently, has made headlines for all the wrong reasons due to his behaviour off the pitch. In August, 2022, Mendy stood trial for rape, attempted rape and sexual assault and, although partially acquitted, is due to stand retrial on two charges, on which the jury failed to reach a verdict, in June, 2023.
In happier times, Mendy made his senior debut for the French national team on March 25, 2017 in a qualifying match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Luxembourg at Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg City, which France won 3-1. On July 24, 2017, he was transferred from Monaco to Manchester City for £52 million, which, at the time, was a record fee for a defender. He was susbsequently named in the French 2018 World Cup-winning squad, but made just one appearance in the finals, replacing Lucas Hernandez after 50 minutes during a 0-0 draw with Denmark in the final Group D match at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
More recently, forward Julián Álvarez signed for Manchester City from River Plate on January 31, 2022, having made his senior debut for the Argentine national team in a World Cup qualifying match against Chile at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, which ended 1-1, on June 4, 2021. Unlike Mendy, Álvarez was an integral part of the World Cup-winning squad in Qatar in 2022. He scored in the final Group C match against Poland, which Argentina won 2-0, again in a last-16 match against Australia, which Argentina won 2-1, and twice in the semi-final against Croatia, which Argentina won 3-0.