From the sunny days of Uruguay in 1930 to the busy stadiums of Mexico in 1970, the world champions raised the recognizable Jules Rimet trophy—named for the renowned former FIFA president—high in the air.  At the 1974 spectacle in Germany, however, the current trophy was presented to the football world as a new luminary.

 In April 1971, this evolutionary journey started in the sacred halls of FIFA’s headquarters in the tranquil Swiss city of Zurich.  Here, the best sculptors and artisans in the world were called upon to create a symbol worthy of the beautiful game.  The idea of Italian maestro Silvio Gazzaniga stood out among a stunning collection of 53 designs from 25 different countries.

Gazzaniga, a Milanese maestro and well-known name in modern art, wowed FIFA with a captivating clay model and a wonderfully sculpted plaster mold.  Under the watchful eye of then-FIFA president Stanley Rous, his work was elevated to new heights, destined to capture football’s ultimate triumph until at least 2038.

 This golden masterpiece, created using the traditional ‘lost wax’ technique, was completed in January 1972.  It is 36.8 centimeters tall and weighs 6,175 grams of 18-carat gold.  Since 2014, its base, adorned with green malachite bands, has featured a helical etching of previous world champions, mimicking the historic echoes of Brazilian stadiums.

In his search for a global symbol of sport and synergy, Gazzaniga drew inspiration from two sources: the triumphant athlete and the gorgeous Earth.  The trophy was envisioned as a colorful symbol of achievement, resonating with harmony, purity, and unity.

 “The figure needed to be linear and dynamic to focus attention on the protagonist—the footballer—an individual transformed into a giant by victory, without becoming a superhero,” Gazzaniga told me.  “This sporting hero was meant to embody the daily efforts and sacrifices of his peers and become a universal symbol of challenge and freedom, holding the world in his arms,” he said with enthusiasm.

Finally, Gazzaniga’s masterwork captures the defining picture of the victor.  “The athlete is the piece’s true protagonist, raising the world with the joy and excitement of triumph.  “Those who win such a difficult and prestigious competition become giants in their moment of triumph, and their prize—the Cup—must express all of that,” he stated, capturing the essence of the sport in his art.