The history of the FIFA World Cup trophy begins with the Jules Rimet Trophy, named after the FIFA president who initiated the tournament. This iconic gold trophy, which depicted the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, standing on a cup, was awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup from 1930 to 1970. The first team to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy was Uruguay, who won the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen in 1966, just months before the World Cup was set to take place in England. Despite intense efforts to recover the trophy, it remained missing for seven days until it was discovered wrapped in newspaper under a hedge by a dog named Pickles. Luckily, England won the tournament that year and was awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy for keeps as a result of the theft.
As the Jules Rimet Trophy had been won three times by Brazil, FIFA decided to introduce a new trophy that would be awarded permanently to a team winning the World Cup three times. The current trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and unveiled in 1974. It stands at 36 centimeters tall and is made of 18-carat gold, weighing 6.1 kilograms.
One of the unique aspects of the FIFA World Cup Trophy is the tradition of engraving the name of the winning country and the year of their victory on the bottom of the trophy. However, due to limited space, there is only enough room for the names of previous winners until 2038. After that, the base of the trophy will have to be enlarged to accommodate future winners.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is one of the most coveted prizes in the world of sports. It symbolizes excellence, teamwork, and triumph on the global stage. Winning the trophy brings immense honor and pride to the winning country, showcasing their dominance and skill in the beautiful game. The World Cup trophy represents the pinnacle of soccer achievement and leaves a lasting legacy for the players, fans, and the sport itself.
