Historic global journey of the "real" FIFA World Cup Trophy to stop over in 28 countries". FIFA. 6 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Germany v Argentina: World Cup final champions not allowed to keep trophy - despite becoming three-time winners". The Telegraph. 6 July 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021 . Retrieved 6 July 2018. Blatter mourns loss of ex-Brazil captain Bellini". FIFA. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 . Retrieved 6 July 2015.

The current World Cup trophy is believed to be made of solid gold. However, a British chemistry professor revealed that the trophy is likely to be hollow as a solid trophy weighs 154 lb (70 kgs). FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour The trophy, originally dubbed Victory and commonly called the Coupe du Monde (French for World Cup), was 35cm in height and weighed 3.8kg. It was constructed with gold-plated sterling silver and it had a blue base made of semi-precious stone called lapis lazuli. Unsurprisingly, the rules were then changed to ensure the second replacement Challenge Cup, costing 100 guineas, ‘would never become the property of the winner’. It’s still used today, adorned with a pineapple – a symbol of wealth and luxury – and inscribed with ‘The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World’, although players may now use both hands and there is no official championship of the world – nor was there ever.Classic Football History of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013 . Retrieved 30 June 2014.

The FIFA World Cup trophy, since its inception, has been the object of desire for every football-playing nation in the world, more than 200 of them currently, and their epic struggles on the field to win it has produced some memorable moments.

FIFA World Cup trophy: 1974-present

The only original piece of Abel Lafleur’s trophy in existence today is the original base, which was swapped out in 1954 for a taller one. The piece was discovered in 2015 stowed away in the basement of the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. FIFA World Cup trophy: 1974-present The Jules Rimet Cup was the original trophy of the FIFA World Cup. Originally called "Victory", but generally known simply as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, it was renamed in 1946 to honour the FIFA President Jules Rimet, who in 1929 passed a vote to initiate the competition. It was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur and made of gold-plated sterling silver on a lapis lazuli base. [4] In 1954 the base was replaced with a taller version to accommodate more winner's details. It stood 35centimetres (14in) high and weighed 3.8kilograms (8.4lb). [5] In 1954, the old base of the Jules Rimet Trophy was replaced with a taller one to accommodate names of more winners.

On 19 December 1983, the wooden rear of the cabinet was opened by force with a crowbar and the cup was stolen again. [16] Four men were tried and convicted in absentia for the crime. [17] The trophy has never been recovered, and it is widely believed to have been melted down and sold. [18] Only one piece of the Jules Rimet Trophy has been found, the original base, which FIFA had kept in a basement of the federation's Zürich headquarters prior to 2015. [19] The trophy presented to the men’s singles winner at the first Wimbledon Championship in 1877 cost 25 guineas and was given to the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club by J. H. Walsh, editor of The Field. Six years later, it was retired when William Renshaw, a three-times winner, was permitted under rules to take it home with him. In 1886, Renshaw, having won another three consecutive competitions, also kept the new Challenge Cup. The inscriptions state the year in figures and the name of the winning nation in its national language. For example, "1974 Deutschland" or "1994 Brasil". In 2010, the name of the winning nation was engraved as "2010 Spain", in English, not in Spanish. [30] [31] This was corrected in the new plate made after the 2018 World Cup. [32] Bellos, Alex (2003). Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life. London: Bloomsbury. pp. 342. ISBN 0-7475-6179-6.Famously, the trophy was engraved with the winner’s name before they received it and there was much speculation as to when the engraver was sure enough of the outcome to begin. Only once did he made a mistake: in 1999, when Jean van de Velde infamously choked with a triple bogey on the 18th hole. Paul Lawrie subsequently won the playoff and the engraver had to scratch through van de Velde’s name. The winning golfer’s name is now only added after his scorecard is verified by officials.