Origin of the FIFA World Cup^TM Trophy.

There have actually been two FIFA World Cup(tm) trophies made during the lifetime of the games.

The original trophy was made by a French sculptor, Abel LaFleur, in gold. This sculpture was of the Lady of Victory stretching both arms out to support an eight-angled cup on a marble-like base. This trophy was called the "Jules Rimet Cup", in honor of the founder of the FIFA World Cup(tm) event. During the course of three FIFA World Cup(tm) events (1930, 1934 and 1938) which were held before the Second World War, the name changed to simply the 'World Cup'.

This trophy has had an interesting history. During the Second World War, it was hidden from the Germans under a bed in an Italian home. After surviving World War II, the "World Cup" was stolen during a public exposition just before the 1966 England FIFA World Cup. Fortunately, the trophy was later found in a trash container by a dog called "Pickles." The Brazilian team won the trophy permanently in 1970, and was rewarded for being the only team ever to have won three World Cups.

Unfortunately, the trophy was stolen a second time in 1983 in Brazil and since then has never been recovered. It is assumed that the thieves melted down the trophy. The Brazil Football Association now has a duplicate of the trophy.

A second trophy was selected in 1974 by FIFA. There were 53 designs to choose from. The Italian sculptor, Silvio Gazazniga won the commission. He designed this trophy in 18 carat gold. The sculptor explained that "players are supporting the earth from the bottom on a circle form, which represents the emotional moment of winning the game."

More on the FIFA World Cup^TM trophies 

The French sculptor Abel Lafleur was honoured to design the first World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Cup. It was a gold statuette weighing about 3,8 kilograms and was about 35 centimeters tall, representing an allegorical winged victory on an octagonal base. This famous trophy was first stolen at an exhibition in London prior to the 1966 World Cup, but it was found by a dog named Pickles under some bushes outside London shortly after. In 1930 they said the first nation to win it three times would keep it forever. When Brazil won their third title in Mexico 1970, they won permanent possession of it. In 1983 it was stolen again, and to this day it has not been recovered. 

The present trophy, the FIFA World Cup (tm), weighs about 5 kilograms and is 36 centimeters tall. It was introduced to the 1974 World Cup and is made of solid gold and malachite. It is made by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. He described his creation thus: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory". 

This FIFA World Cup(tm)trophy cannot be won outright as the regulations state that it shall remain FIFA's own possession. The FIFA World Cup(tm) winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a replica, gold-plated rather than solid gold.

With the Jules Rimet Cup now in the permanent possession of Brazil after their third FIFA World Cup™ triumph in Mexico City in 1970, FIFA commissioned a new trophy for the tenth FIFA World Cup™ in 1974. A total of 53 designs were submitted to FIFA by experts from seven countries, with the final choice being the work of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga.

He described his creation thus: "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory".

The current FIFA World Cup™ Trophy also cannot be won outright.

The new FIFA World Cup(tm) trophy is 36 cm high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 4,970 grammes. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite and has room for 17 small plaques bearing the name of the winners - space enough for the World Champions up to the year 2038.