The FIFA World Cup trophy, a symbol of ultimate athletic achievement, was designed in Milan by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga with the intention of representing three core emotions: the athlete's struggle, the fan's jubilation, and the triumph of victory. This iconic design, first commissioned after Brazil permanently claimed the original trophy in 1970, features two spiraling figures ascending toward a representation of the Earth.
Silvio Gazzaniga, who worked for G.D.E. Bertoni Srl and created other notable trophies like the UEFA Cup, developed his concept from numerous sketches. His son, Giorgio Gazzaniga, recalled that his father envisioned the design as two DNA-like spirals moving upwards, symbolizing the world and the upward movement of victory. The elder Gazzaniga, who passed away in 2016, was inspired to capture the dynamic essence of sport in a single, unified form.
The creation of Gazzaniga's design followed an open competition held by FIFA. While over 50 proposals were submitted, Gazzaniga was the only one to present a complete model, allowing the jury to understand both its aesthetic form and its narrative. Giorgio Gazzaniga explained that his father's design depicts "the world, which stands above all else, there is the athlete's exertion, there is the athlete's movement within the metal, and the athlete's body is rough, rugged, for it has suffered, had to fight, and struggled for victory." He added that the victory itself is conveyed through arms that evoke the wings of Victory, encompassing both the athlete's triumph and the fan's elation.
Gazzaniga's family has maintained his office, preserving his drawings, the original prototype submitted to FIFA, and a wax cast of the trophy. The current FIFA World Cup Trophy stands 36 centimeters (14 inches) tall and is crafted from 18-carat gold, set on a base of green malachite. It symbolizes the playing fields of the world.
The original trophy, known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, was introduced for the 1930 tournament. It was famously stolen twice, once in 1966 in England and recovered by a dog named Pickles, and again in 1983 from Brazil's Football Confederation headquarters. The latter theft resulted in its permanent disappearance, with speculation it was melted down. Brazil had earned the right to keep the original trophy permanently after winning its third World Cup in 1970, prompting FIFA to commission a new design.
This marks the 14th World Cup to feature Gazzaniga's design. FIFA has decided to continue using it at least through the 2038 tournament. Winners of the World Cup receive a gold-plated replica, as the original trophy is returned to FIFA's headquarters in Switzerland after the tournament. This practice differs from previous eras where three-time winners were allowed to keep the original. Giorgio Gazzaniga vividly recalls the 1974 World Cup final, the first time his father's trophy was presented, describing the "real explosion of joy" when the German team lifted it, an event that transformed the object into an icon.