The Story Behind Football's Most Coveted Trophy

The Italian sculptor who designed the FIFA World Cup trophy aimed to encapsulate three sporting emotions within a single, spiraling form: the athlete's struggle, the fan's jubilation, and the moment of victory. Silvio Gazzaniga, the visionary behind the iconic trophy, passed away in 2016.

Gazzaniga crafted the World Cup trophy in his Milan studio, located in the Brera district. FIFA launched an open competition for a new design after Brazil permanently claimed the Jules Rimet trophy for winning their third World Cup title in 1970.

The design, now instantly recognizable to generations of World Cup fans, depicts two figures spiraling upwards, supporting a globe that represents the Earth.

Gazzaniga, a renowned sculptor and trophy designer, worked for G.D.E. Bertoni Srl and was responsible for creating some of the world's most prestigious awards, including the UEFA Cup and European Super Cup trophies.

The original Jules Rimet trophy was stolen twice. The first incident occurred in 1966 while it was on public display in England, only to be famously recovered by a dog named Pickles from under a hedge in South London.

It was stolen again from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in 1983, after Brazil had been granted permanent possession. The trophy was never recovered and is widely believed to have been melted down.

The official World Cup trophy, which the captain of the winning team lifts at the final whistle, stands 36 centimeters (14 inches) tall and is cast from 18-carat gold. It rests on a base featuring two rings of green malachite, symbolizing a football pitch.

Following the tournament, the original trophy returns to FIFA, which stores it at its headquarters in Switzerland between World Cups. The victorious team, however, takes home a gold-plated replica.

This marks the 14th World Cup to feature Gazzaniga's design. According to the sculptor's website, FIFA has decided to keep the trophy in use until at least the 2038 tournament.