Pamela Anderson Accused a World Cup Champion of Cheating — and It Destroyed His Career

Seven years ago, in 2018, France lifted the World Cup trophy in Russia. Among the champions was defender Adil Rami. He didn’t play a single minute during the tournament — but still became a world champion. Along with the medal, however, he received something far less glamorous: a scandal that changed his life.

The Romance That Shocked Everyone

Right before the World Cup final against Croatia, Rami proposed to his girlfriend — American actress and model Pamela Anderson. Their relationship had begun a year earlier, in 2017, during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Pamela was deeply in love. She even moved from Malibu to Marseille to live with Rami, renting out her home in California.

The 19-year age gap between them didn’t bother the French defender. He admitted that he had been mesmerized by Pamela ever since seeing her on Baywatch. Everything seemed perfect — until it wasn’t.

From Passion to Nightmare

Their first breakup came soon after the World Cup. Pamela explained at the time that she wanted to give Rami more time to spend with his children from a previous marriage. The couple later reconciled, and fans believed the love story had found a second wind.

But a year later, everything fell apart again — this time for good. Anderson described the relationship as a “living nightmare.” She accused Rami of physical and emotional abuse, saying he had grabbed her, pulled her hair, and stalked her.

She recalled the summer of 2018, which many viewed as a romantic period in their relationship:

“He was very cruel to me. In Los Angeles, he once grabbed me by the hair and pulled hard because I left him alone at a hotel after a photoshoot with friends,” Anderson claimed.

The accusations shocked the French public — especially since Rami at the time was an official ambassador for a French organization combating domestic violence. Anderson later called that role “a façade” for his true behavior.

“Two Years of My Life Were a Lie”

In a public statement, Pamela said she had discovered that Rami was leading a double life.

“More than two years of my life were a lie. I was being deceived and made to believe we had great love,” she wrote on social media.

By June 2019, Anderson ended the relationship for good, accusing the footballer of disrespect toward women and toxic behavior.

The Scandal That Ended His Career

The scandal quickly spiraled into a media storm. Rami’s club at the time, Marseille, seized the opportunity — the defender was one of the team’s highest-paid players, and the club had been looking for a way to part ways. First, they suspended him from training; soon after, they terminated his contract altogether.

At 32, Rami found himself unwanted. His next stop was Fenerbahçe, but he failed to complete a full season there. In early 2020, he signed with Sochi in Russia — yet never played a single match.

On August 24, 2021, the former World Cup winner joined Troyes in France, where he quietly ended his professional career in the summer of 2023.

Published by Patrick Jane
15.10.2025