From Jules Rimet to today's trophy
The first trophy, named after FIFA founder Jules Rimet, was stolen twice—once from a London exhibition in 1966, recovered by a dog named Pickles, then permanently stolen in Brazil in 1983. FIFA commissioned Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga’s design in 1974: two human figures holding up the Earth. West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer was the first captain to lift it.
Why winners don’t keep the real thing
FIFA stores the original trophy in Zürich, only bringing it out for finals and select events. Champions like Argentina in 2022 get a replica with ‘FIFA World Cup Winners’ engraved—but it’s bronze with gold plating, not solid gold. The rule changed after Brazil permanently kept the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1970 for winning three times.
Trophy rituals and close calls
Lionel Messi kissed it repeatedly during Argentina’s 2022 celebrations. In 2010, Spain’s Iker Casillas nearly dropped it during the parade. The trophy base lists winners since 1974, with space running out after 2038. Germany’s Philipp Lahm once joked they’d need ‘a bigger trophy’ after their 2014 win.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is the World Cup trophy worth?+
Insured for $20 million, but its historical value is immeasurable. The gold alone would be worth about $250,000 at current prices.
Has any team won the current trophy three times?+
No. Germany and Argentina have won it twice (1974/1990 and 1978/2022 respectively). Brazil won three Jules Rimet Trophies (1958, 1962, 1970).
Where can the public see the real trophy?+
Rarely displayed outside FIFA headquarters. It toured globally before Qatar 2022 but required armed guards. Replicas appear in museums like England’s National Football Museum.
Why does the base have uneven engraving?+
FIFA initially left space for 17 winners (1974–2038), but names vary in length. ‘Germany’ forced tighter spacing in 2014 versus ‘Argentina’ in 2022.