The World Cup trophy: from the Jules Rimet Cup to the FIFA Cup
The first trophy was stolen and never found; the current one, by Silvio Gazzaniga, has been awarded since 1974. The story of the two trophies that have crowned world champions.
Throughout its history, the World Cup has had two trophies. The first was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur for the inaugural 1930 edition: a figure of the goddess Niké, winged victory, holding an octagonal cup. In 1946 it was renamed the Jules Rimet Cup in honour of the FIFA president who drove the tournament.
That first trophy had an expiry date. FIFA had decreed that the team winning three World Cups would keep it for good, and Brazil did so in 1970 with their third title. The cup was housed at the Brazilian federation's headquarters… until it was stolen in Rio de Janeiro in 1983 and never recovered; it is believed to have been melted down.
Since Brazil had kept the Jules Rimet, FIFA had already commissioned a new trophy for 1974. The chosen design, by Italy's Silvio Gazzaniga, is the one we know today: 36.8 centimetres of solid 18-carat gold, with two human figures holding up the globe in a gesture of triumph.
Unlike its predecessor, this trophy is not given away for keeps: champions lift it, take the photo and then receive a gold-plated replica, while the original stays in FIFA's custody. The names of every champion are engraved on its base, with space calculated to last until 2038.
That is the trophy the 2026 champions will lift, the same one raised by legends from Beckenbauer to Messi. A gold sculpture that sums up the dream of any footballer.
Source: Wikipedia (FIFA World Cup Trophy; Jules Rimet Trophy).