The prize for the winning team is the coveted gold trophy – the ultimate symbol of world football. Behind this 36 cm tall trophy are fascinating stories spanning nearly a century.
The original World Cup trophy was first awarded at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Originally named Victory, it was later rebranded as the Jules Rimet Trophy, in honor of pioneering FIFA President Jules Rimet.
In 1970, after Brazil became the first team to win the tournament three times, FIFA granted Brazil permanent ownership of the trophy. However, in 1983, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation and has not been found to this day. Experts believed the trophy may have been melted down to extract the gold.
Unlike its predecessor, the modern World Cup Trophy is not awarded permanently to any nation. Champions get their hands on the original during the post-match award ceremony, before being presented with a gold-plated replica - the FIFA World Cup Winners' Trophy - to keep.
The current World Cup trophy is 36 cm tall, weighs 6.2 kg, and is crafted from 18-carat gold by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. Its design - two human figures triumphantly lifting Planet Earth - captures football's global, unifying spirit.
