No other sporting event captures the imagination of fans from all over the world like the FIFA World Cup competition. Ever since the very first tournament held in Uruguay in 1930, FIFA’s biggest celebration keeps increasing in glamour and popularity. During the late 1920 a team of French football fans led by the infamous FIFA president Jules Rimet had the idea to bring the best teams from around the world to play against each other for the title of the World Champion. The original World Cup Trophy was named after Jules Rimet, was covered in gold, and was used in the World Cup finals three times before taking a 12 year break during the second World War. After these dark 12 years had passed the tournament became better and better, gaining the position as the most important sporting event of the modern world. We have put together below some historical facts and information regarding the FIFA World Cup Trophy, its origin and current form.
Two years before the first World Cup in 1930 the federation had agreed that each winner should get a new trophy, the creation was assigned to French artist Abel Lafleur.
Italian FIFA vice president Ottorino Barassi hid the trophy inside a shoe box under his bed during the World War to save it from enemy forces.
In 1996 the trophy disappeared during the World Cup in England, but later was found buried under a tree by a dog named Pickles.
In 1983 the trophy was once again stolen in Brazil, and the thieves apparently melted it into small pieces. The Brazilian football team had already won the World Cup three times and according to the rules were allowed to keep the trophy forever. Since the original was gone, the made an exact replica that still to date is held in their country.
The original trophy was 35 centimetres high and weighed around 4 kilos. The statue was made from 100% pure silver and was covered in real gold with a base of blue semi precious stones. It was made after the Greek goddess of victory Nike. On each of the four sides of the base there was a plaque with the name of the trophy (Jules Rimet Cup), as well as the names of the nine winning teams from 1930 to 1970.
Since the original first trophy was now forever held by Brazil after winning the competition for the third time in 1970, FIFA had to build a brand new trophy for the 10th World Cup in 1974. Over 50 different designs were submitted, but the final choice was of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga. This new trophy will not permanently go to any country in the future, and the winners of each tournament get to keep it for four years before passing it to the next nation. Each winner then gets a copy of the World Cup Trophy, but one that is not from solid gold.
The new trophy is 36 centimetres high and weighs around 6 kilos. It is made from 18 carat pure gold, and the name of each winner since 1974 is inscribed at its base.
