Spain Lifts FIFA World Cup 2026, How Much Is It Worth? Meet The Italian Sculptor Who Created It
Spain emerged victorious after an intense match against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Amid that, let's take a quick look at the trophy and its history.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina has finally come to an end, with Spain emerging as the winners at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The team lifted the trophy after defeating their rivals by 1-0. However, as the two teams lock horns, the limelight has also shifted to the creator of the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy.
For the unversed, the FIFA World Cup trophy has a long history; created by an Italian sculptor, it is not even the first trophy designed for the games. So, as Spain lifts the cup, let's take a look at what we know about the iconic creation and its designer.
Spain wins the FIFA World Cup 2026; will they get to keep the trophy?
Spain defeated Argentina by 1-0 in an intense match. After a long chase, it was Ferran Torres who scored the winning goal for Spain in extra time. However, do they get to keep the trophy? The short answer: No. According to The Mirror, the winning team does not get to keep the original cup. However, a replica is given to them to take home, while the original trophy returns to the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.
Is the FIFA World Cup trophy made of gold? What is it worth?
The FIFA World Cup trophy is one of the most luxurious and opulent title trophies in all of sports. And yes! It is made of 18-karat gold and weighs 4.93 kilograms, according to the London Stock Exchange Group. The current version of the trophy was introduced in 1974 and is estimated to be between USD 713,000 and USD 800,000. However, given its historical significance and cultural prestige, its true value exceeds USD 20 million.
Meet the man who created the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy
The iconic FIFA World Cup trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga in his studio in Milan's Brera, following FIFA's open competition for a new design, after Brazil took permanent possession of the original trophy by winning its third World Cup in 1970. For the unversed, the current design features two figures swirling up toward an orb representing the Earth. The sculptor's son, Giorgio Gazzaniga, reflected on his father's process of making the trophy and said:
"When he started to design the cup, he was sketching a huge number of drawings and finally started to develop the idea to have the world and this symbol that it is like two DNA spirals, that are moving up."
For the unversed, Silvio Gazzaniga passed away in 2016. He worked for G.D.E. Bertoni Srl and created some of the most prestigious trophies in the world, including the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup. More than 50 proposals were submitted to the FIFA competition.
However, only Silvio's was a full model, which allowed the jury to appreciate both the form and the story it conveyed. Today, the Gazzaniga family has preserved his office at a new location on the outskirts of Milan, which features his drawings, the original prototype submitted to FIFA and a wax cast. His son said:
"There is 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. That victory is expressed through arms that resemble the wings of Victory, capturing not only the athlete’s triumph but also the jubilation of the fan."
What happened to the first FIFA World Cup trophy?
The first World Cup trophy was introduced in 1930, and depicted the Greek goddess Nike, and was known as the "Jules Rimet Trophy" after the tournament's founder. FIFA commissioned a replacement after Brazil earned permanent possession of the original after becoming the first nation to win three World Cups. However, the first trophy too had a long history.
It was stolen twice: first in 1966 while on public display in England, then recovered by a dog named Pickles, according to FIFA. The second time it was stolen from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in 1983 after Brazil had taken permanent possession. It has never been recovered and is widely believed to have been melted down.
What are your thoughts on the history of the FIFA World Cup trophy?
PC: FIFA/IG, Sefutbol/IG, Andrea Pagliarulo
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