Biography of Jules Rimet Trophy

The Jules Rimet Trophy was the original prize for winning the World Cup. Originally I was called "Victory", but generally now known simply as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, I was officially renamed in 1946 to honour the FIFA President Jules Rimet who in 1929 passed a vote to initiate the competition. Designed by Abel Lafleur and made of gold plated sterling silver on a blue base of lapis lazuli, i stood 35 cm high and weighed 3.8 kg. I was designed in the shape of an octagonal cup, supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory.

During World War II, I was held by Italy. Ottorino Barassi, the Italian vice-president of FIFA, and hidden from the Germans in a shoe-box under his bed.

Just before the 1966 World Cup Final in England I was stolen during a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, but was found just seven days later, wrapped in newspaper at the bottom of a suburban garden hedge in Norwood, South London, by a dog named "Pickles". As a security measure, The FA secretly manufactured a replica of me for use in the post-match celebrations. The replica was also used on subsequent occasions until 1970. The replica was sold at an auction in 1997 for £254,500, when it was purchased by FIFA who subsequently arranged for it to be displayed at the English National Football Museum in Preston.

The Brazilian team won me for the third time in 1970, and were rewarded by being allowed to keep me in perpetuity. However, I was stolen again in 1983 in Rio de Janeiro and never recovered; some think I may have been melted down. The Brazilian Football Confederation commissioned a replica of their own.


Jules Rimet Trophy

Brazil - 1958, 1962, 1970
Uruguay - 1930, 1950
Italy - 1934, 1938
West Germany - 1954
England - 1966



And since :

West Germany - 1974, 1990
Argentina - 1978, 1986
Italy - 1982, 2006
Brazil - 1994, 2002
France - 1998

FIFA World Cup Trophy

With the Jules Rimet Cup being awarded permanently to 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. Experts from seven countries submitted a total of 53 designs to FIFA, with the final choice being the work of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga.


The FIFA World Cup Trophy is made of solid gold and malachite. It is made by the Italian sculptor Silvio
Gazzaniga. He described his creation in these words: "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 trophy is 36 cm high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 4,970 grams. 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. The current FIFA World Cup Trophy cannot be won outright, as the regulations state that it shall remain FIFA's own possession. The World Cup winners retain it until the next tournament and are awarded a gold-plated replica.

The winning teams, whose legendary players have carried the Trophy in triumph at FIFA World Cup finals are: Germany (1974), captained by Franz Beckenbauer; Argentina (1978), captained by Daniel Pasarella; Italy (1982), captained by Dino Zoff; Argentina (1986), captained by Diego Maradona; Germany (1990), captained by Lothar Matthaus; Brazil (1994), captained by Dunga; France (1998), captained by Didier Deschamps and Brazil (2002), captained by Cafu.