It stands just 36.8 centimeters tall and weighs 6.175 kilograms. It's made of 18-carat solid gold with a base of malachite. And it is, without question, the most coveted prize in all of sport: the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
A Design for the Ages
The current trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga in 1974, replacing the original Jules Rimet Trophy that was permanently awarded to Brazil after their third World Cup victory in 1970. Gazzaniga's design depicts two human figures holding up the Earth in celebration — a symbol of unity, triumph, and the global nature of the sport.
"The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching to receive the world," Gazzaniga described his creation. "From the dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."
Priceless
While the gold content alone is worth approximately $180,000, the trophy's true value is incalculable. It is insured for $20 million, but FIFA considers it irreplaceable. Only one exists, and it travels the world under armed guard.
Unlike many sporting trophies, the winning team does not keep the original. Since 2006, the victorious nation receives a gold-plated bronze replica, while the real trophy returns to FIFA's headquarters in Zurich. Only former winners who have won the tournament three times would have been eligible to keep it permanently under the old rules — but those rules were changed precisely to prevent losing the trophy again.
The Trophy Tour
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the trophy completed a global tour visiting all 48 participating nations. The tour covered over 100,000 kilometers across six continents, giving millions of fans the chance to see the trophy up close — many for the first time in their lives.
In the United States, the trophy visited all 11 host cities, drawing massive crowds at each stop. In Mexico City, over 50,000 people lined up at the Zócalo to catch a glimpse. The Canadian leg saw emotional scenes in Toronto and Vancouver, where football fans celebrated their country's qualification.
Who Will Lift It?
The trophy has been lifted by some of football's greatest names: Pelé, Maradona, Zidane, Lahm, and most recently, Messi in Qatar. On July 19 at MetLife Stadium, a new captain will climb the podium, take the trophy in both hands, and lift it toward the sky.
That moment — roughly four seconds of pure ecstasy — represents the culmination of years of preparation, months of qualification, and weeks of tournament football. It's why billions watch, why grown men cry, and why a game played with a ball remains the most powerful cultural force on Earth.
The trophy awaits. The question is: who will claim it?
