The World Cup Trophy: History, Design and Significance

The Origins: The Jules Rimet Trophy

The story of the World Cup trophy begins long before the glittering gold figure that champions hoist today. In 1928, as FIFA president Jules Rimet prepared to launch a global football tournament, French sculptor Abel Lafleur was commissioned to create a trophy worthy of the occasion. The result was a 35-centimetre, 3.8-kilogram statuette made of gold-plated sterling silver depicting the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, holding an octagonal vessel above her head.

Named the Coupe du Monde, and later the Jules Rimet Trophy in honour of the tournament's founder, this original prize was awarded to the winners from the very first World Cup in 1930. Uruguay, the inaugural champions, were the first to lift it. The trophy's base was originally made of marble, later replaced by a yellow marble and then a wooden base as the years went on. Four small gold plaques were attached to the base, each bearing the names of the winning nations.

The Jules Rimet Trophy had a remarkable and often perilous journey through history. During the Second World War, the trophy was kept safe by Ottorino Barassi, an Italian FIFA vice-president, who hid it in a shoebox under his bed to prevent it from falling into the hands of occupying forces. This was only the first of many narrow escapes.

The Theft of 1966 and the World Cup's Most Famous Dog

In March 1966, just months before England was due to host the World Cup, the trophy was on display at the Westminster Central Hall in London. Despite a security detail, the trophy was stolen from a locked display cabinet. Scotland Yard launched a nationwide search and a ransom demand of £15,000 was made.

The trophy was found just seven days later by a dog named Pickles, who discovered it wrapped in newspaper under a hedge in a garden in South London. Pickles became an instant national hero, attending the World Cup final celebrations and even appearing on television. The thief, Edward Betchley, was eventually caught and imprisoned. The trophy itself was undamaged, though the insurance payout had already been made, and a replica was created by FIFA which remains to this day.

Brazil's Permanent Possession and the Trophy's Fate

The Jules Rimet Trophy had a unique rule attached to it: any nation that won the World Cup three times would be allowed to keep the trophy permanently. When Brazil won their third title in Mexico in 1970 — widely considered the greatest team ever, as discussed in our article at /brazil-1970-greatest-team-ever — captain Carlos Alberto was handed the Jules Rimet Trophy, and Brazil were granted permanent ownership.

The trophy was displayed at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. In 1983, it was stolen again, and this time there was no happy ending. The trophy was taken from its display case at the CBF headquarters, and despite extensive investigations, it was never recovered. It is widely believed that the trophy was melted down for its gold content. Brazil eventually commissioned a replica, which is what you see displayed today at the CBF headquarters.

The New Trophy: Silvio Gazzaniga's Masterpiece

With Brazil permanently taking the Jules Rimet Trophy, FIFA needed a new prize for the 1974 tournament. The governing body received 53 submissions from sculptors across seven countries. The winning design came from Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, and his creation remains the World Cup trophy to this day.

The current FIFA World Cup trophy stands 36.8 centimetres tall and weighs 6.175 kilograms. It is made of solid 18-carat gold — not gold-plated or gold-filled, but solid gold throughout. The base is made of two layers of malachite, a semi-precious green stone from Brazil, which provides a striking contrast to the gold. Gazzaniga described his design as representing two athletes in the moment of victory, their arms raised, supporting the globe. The trophy's spiralling motion captures the dynamism of football itself.

Unlike the Jules Rimet Trophy, the current trophy has never been won outright by any nation. Under FIFA's current regulations, the original trophy remains permanently in FIFA's possession. Winning nations receive a gold-plated bronze replica, known as the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy, which they keep permanently. The original trophy is only brought out for the draw ceremony and the final itself.

Materials and Craftsmanship

The 18-carat gold used in the trophy is a 75 per cent gold alloy, mixed with copper and silver to provide strength, as pure 24-carat gold would be too soft to maintain the trophy's intricate form. The trophy was cast using the lost-wax technique, a process that dates back thousands of years. Each trophy is actually cast in several separate pieces that are then joined together.

The malachite base, weighing approximately 5 kilograms, is sourced from the Urals region of Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two layers of malachite form the base, which also features a gold plaque engraved with the names of each winning nation. As of the 2022 World Cup, there are 12 names engraved on the base: Germany, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Spain, England, France, Uruguay, Argentina (again), France (again), Germany (again), and Spain (again) for the men's edition. The base has space for a total of 17 winners, meaning the current trophy can remain in use until well into the 21st century before a new one is needed.

Trophy Traditions and Superstitions

The World Cup trophy is surrounded by unique traditions and superstitions. One of the most persistent beliefs is that touching the trophy before winning it will jinx a team's chances. Before the final, the trophy is displayed on the pitch, and players from both teams walk past it during the pre-match handshake. Many players deliberately avoid touching or even looking at the trophy. Some contort their bodies at unusual angles to ensure their fingers don't brush against the gold. While this superstition is not universally observed, it has become such a part of World Cup lore that commentators frequently mention it in the build-up to finals.

The trophy itself is rarely seen by the public. Between tournaments, it is stored in a vault at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. It is brought out for the Final Draw ceremony, the World Cup trophy tour, and the final itself. The trophy tour, organised by Coca-Cola, takes the trophy to all qualifying nations before each tournament, allowing fans around the world to see the prize their national team is competing for. More details on the trophy tour route can be found on our /world-cup page.

Replicas and Official Copies

FIFA strictly controls the production of World Cup trophy replicas. Each winning nation receives a gold-plated replica to keep permanently. These replicas are produced by the same Italian foundry that created the original, using precisely the same mould. However, the replicas are made of bronze with gold plating, not solid gold.

In addition to the winning nations' replicas, FIFA owns a small number of other copies that are used for promotional purposes. The original trophy never leaves FIFA custody. Even the replica that was created after the 1966 theft is still in existence — FIFA maintains a small collection of historical trophies for display purposes. For more on the trophy's history at each tournament, visit our /world-cup/history page.

Iconic Lifting Moments

The image of a captain lifting the World Cup trophy is one of the most iconic in sport. Each lift tells a story. In 1974, Franz Beckenbauer became the first captain to lift the current trophy after West Germany's victory over the Netherlands. In 1978, Daniel Passarella raised the trophy for Argentina on home soil.

In 1994, Dunga's lift for Brazil marked South America's first triumph with the new trophy. In 1998, Didier Deschamps became the first French captain to lift it on home soil. In 2002, Cafu, the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals, lifted it for Brazil's record fifth title.

In 2010, Iker Casillas lifted the trophy for Spain's first title. In 2014, Philipp Lahm's lift marked Germany's fourth title and the first by a European team in South America. And in 2022, Lionel Messi's emotional lift — in what he described as his final World Cup match — capped Argentina's third title and provided what many consider the most iconic image in recent World Cup history. See our full coverage of Argentina's 2022 triumph at /world-cup-2022-argentina-triumph-qatar.

The Future of the Trophy

FIFA has indicated that the current trophy will eventually need to be retired. When a 17th nation is engraved on the base — which could happen in the 2034 or 2038 tournament — FIFA will need to commission a new trophy. Discussions about what form this next trophy should take are already ongoing within the governing body. Some have suggested returning to the Jules Rimet design, while others advocate for a completely new artistic approach. For the full schedule of future tournaments, see our /world-cup page.

Whatever form the next trophy takes, it will have a hard act to follow. The current FIFA World Cup trophy, with its simple yet powerful design, has become one of the most recognised symbols in world sport. From the hands of Beckenbauer to Messi, it has been lifted by the greatest players of each generation, and its history — of theft, survival, and triumph — is woven into the fabric of football itself. Learn more about each tournament's champion stories on our /world-cup/winners page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the World Cup trophy made of?

The current FIFA World Cup trophy is made of 18-carat solid gold with a malachite base. It weighs 6.175 kilograms and stands 36.8 centimetres tall. The gold alloy contains copper and silver to provide strength alongside the 75 per cent gold content.

Who designed the current World Cup trophy?

The current trophy was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga. His design, featuring two athletes holding up the globe in a spiralling motion, was selected from 53 submissions and has been awarded since the 1974 tournament.

What happened to the original Jules Rimet trophy?

The Jules Rimet trophy was stolen in 1983 from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro and has never been recovered. It was permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970 after their third World Cup win, but thieves reportedly melted it down for its gold value. A replica was created for display purposes.

Can countries keep the World Cup trophy?

No. Unlike the Jules Rimet trophy, which was permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970, the current trophy remains in FIFA's possession at all times. Winners receive a gold-plated bronze replica to keep permanently. The original is stored in a vault in Zurich.

Why can't players touch the World Cup trophy before the final?

A long-standing superstition suggests that touching the trophy before the final will result in not winning it. Many players deliberately avoid contact with the trophy when it is displayed pitchside before the match, though there is no official rule against touching it.

How many names are engraved on the World Cup trophy base?

The malachite base of the current trophy has gold plaques bearing the names of winning nations. As of 2022, 12 national teams have been engraved. The base has space for 17 winners, at which point a new trophy will be required.