The Story of Football’s Most Coveted Prize

For players and fans alike, there is no greater symbol in sport than the FIFA World Cup trophy. Gleaming under stadium lights as the ultimate reward for four weeks of sweat, skill, and sacrifice, this piece of gold carries far more weight than its 6.175 kilograms.

Crafted from 18-carat gold, standing 37 centimeters tall with a 13-centimeter diameter, the trophy is a masterpiece of design. Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga created it after FIFA held a design competition in the early 1970s. Two elegant human figures rise to hold the globe aloft, perfectly capturing football’s universal joy. The base features two striking circles of malachite, a precious green mineral. Though its raw material value sits around $250,000, its true worth is priceless given its history and prestige.

The current trophy replaced the original Jules Rimet Cup, which was awarded from 1930 to 1970. Named after former FIFA president Jules Rimet, that earlier trophy depicted the Greek goddess of victory and was made of gold-plated sterling silver. Its story reads like a thriller. During World War II, Italian football official Ottorino Barassi hid it in a shoebox under his bed to protect it from the Nazis. In 1966, it was stolen from an exhibition in England before the tournament, only to be famously recovered by a dog named Pickles, who found it wrapped in newspaper under a hedge.

Brazil earned the right to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy forever after winning it for the third time in 1970. Tragically, it was stolen from the Brazilian Football Federation offices in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and never seen again. Most believe it was melted down for its gold.

Since 1974, the new FIFA World Cup Trophy has followed strict rules. No country is allowed to keep the original. Winning captains get to lift the real trophy during wild celebrations, but FIFA quickly secures it and presents the champions with a gold-plated replica to take home permanently.

Even touching the trophy is an exclusive privilege. According to FIFA protocol, only the winning team’s players, coaching staff, and visiting heads of state may lay their bare hands on it. For everyone else, it remains behind glass or under heavy guard.

Hollow inside yet overflowing with meaning, this gold icon has been kissed by legends from Pelé to Messi. It has survived wars, thefts, and decades of football history, always returning to the pitch for the next champion.

As North America prepares to host the 2026 World Cup, 48 teams will chase the same dream: to etch their name into the legacy of this golden prize. Some will come close, but only one will hold it high.