During the World Cup 2022, let’s discover 10 secrets you may not know about the most prestigious golden trophy in the world.
You might be an ardent fan of the beautiful game and closely follow the biggest football festival on the planet, the World Cup. You may have deep knowledge about the history of players and tournaments. However, are you sure you know all the secrets behind the world’s most prestigious golden trophy? Here, we will reveal 10 secrets of the golden cup that has existed for over 88 years.
1. The First Trophy – 1930
The first shape of the most prestigious trophy in the world.
Since the first World Cup held in 1930 in Uruguay, the first golden trophy, named “The Golden Goddess”, was designed by jeweler Abel Lafleur. It weighs 1.8 kg of pure gold, with a base made of nearly 4 kg of blue granite. Before 1970, this trophy was returned to FIFA as per the regulations.
2. Brazil is the Only Country to Own the Trophy Permanently
Carlos Alberto proudly raises Brazil’s third consecutive gold cup.
In 1970, Brazil won the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Therefore, Brazil was awarded the “Jules Rimet” trophy permanently according to FIFA regulations. Subsequently, FIFA commissioned another trophy named the FIFA World Cup. Under the new regulations, this trophy does not belong to any football team; winning teams receive a replica as a keepsake while keeping the World Cup trophy until the next tournament.
3. The “Jules Rimet” Trophy Was Stolen After 1970
“Jules Rimet” disappeared after Brazil’s glorious victory in 1970.
After Brazil won the World Cup for the third time in 1970, the team kept this trophy permanently as per FIFA’s regulations established when the tournament was formed. The trophy was displayed at the Brazilian Football Federation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro in a bulletproof glass case. However, in December 1983, the “Jules Rimet” trophy mysteriously disappeared from its protective case, and four men were suspected and convicted.
4. The First “Jules Rimet” Trophy Went Missing Completely
The fate of “Jules Rimet” remains the greatest mystery in the world.
On March 20, 1966, four months before the World Cup kicked off in England, the “Jules Rimet” trophy was stolen during a public exhibition at a central square in Westminster. Fortunately, it was found just seven days later, wrapped in a newspaper and buried at the foot of a fence in a garden in Upper Norwood, South London, discovered by a dog named Pickles. However, tragedy struck again when the trophy was stolen once more after Brazil was permanently awarded the trophy in 1970. As mentioned earlier, this trophy has yet to be found to this day.
5. “The Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer Was the First to Raise the FIFA Trophy
Beckenbauer was the first ‘leader’ to raise the new trophy.
During the 10th edition of the World Cup, the West Germany team had the honor of being the first to lift the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy at their home ground. The first to be honored with this task was “The Kaiser” Beckenbauer after defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in Munich.
6. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Was Designed by an Italian Artist
The masterpiece that Silvio created for the world is truly monumental.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is not just an award for the world champion; it is also one of the finest artistic achievements of all time. To create it, 53 renowned sculptors worldwide collaborated based on the design by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga in 1971.
After defeating competitors from 17 other countries, Silvio’s design stands at 36.5 cm tall, made from 5 kg of 18-carat gold and adorned with two layers of green gemstones. Additionally, the trophy features a spiral design showcasing two players holding the globe aloft as a symbol of victory.
7. Replicas of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Are Just “Gold-Plated”
The replicas of this trophy are merely ‘gold-plated’.
The official FIFA World Cup trophy is made from 6.175 kg of solid gold and is of immense value. However, the replicas awarded to world champion teams are merely “gold-plated” and hollow inside. The champion team can keep this trophy for a limited time; afterwards, FIFA will create a smaller replica for the victorious teams. Of course, no team will ever be allowed to permanently keep the FIFA World Cup trophy.
8. The Winning Team’s Name Is Engraved at the “Base” of the Trophy
The name of the champion team will be engraved in their national language.
If we pay attention, we will notice that the base of the trophy is engraved with the words FIFA World Cup. However, the names of the teams that win the championship at each World Cup are engraved on the bottom of the trophy, which is not visible when the trophy is placed upright. The name of the winning team will be engraved in their national language; for instance, if Vietnam were to win the World Cup, the bottom of the trophy would clearly read “Vietnam”. As of 2014, 11 champions have had their names engraved on the base, and it remains unclear how FIFA will resolve the situation when the names of countries fill the bottom of the trophy.
9. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Is “Hollow”
The FIFA World Cup trophy is hollow inside.
This may come as a disappointment, but it is true. Reports suggest that a solid gold World Cup trophy would weigh around 70 kg, making it too heavy for players to celebrate their victory. The current trophy was created by FIFA as a replacement for the “Jules Rimet” trophy or “The Golden Goddess”.
10. The FIFA World Cup Trophy Has Visited Vietnam Three Times
This trophy has visited Vietnam as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy program.
In 2014, as part of an initiative to promote the World Cup in Brazil, this golden trophy came to Vietnam as part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, which lasted 267 days and passed through 88 countries and territories worldwide. Consequently, Vietnamese fans had the opportunity to admire and take photos with the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy. This was the third time this trophy had set foot on the S-shaped land.
