So I was rewatching the 2022 World Cup highlights last night and suddenly wondered – why does the trophy look different in old clips? Grabbed my laptop and started digging through this trophy rabbit hole. Took me hours to piece together the whole story.
Finding the OG Trophy
First thing I learned was the original trophy had some French guy’s name on it. Jules Rimet? Sounded like a fancy perfume but turned out he was FIFA president back in 1920s. The trophy design was this weird winged lady holding an octagonal cup. Artist made her look like Nike – not the shoe brand, the Greek goddess. Weird choice for soccer but okay.
Tracking the Trophy Drama
Wildest part was how this thing kept getting stolen or lost:
- Nazi soldiers snatched it during WWII – hid in some dude’s shoebox till war ended
- Got pinched again in 1966 before England hosted – found by a dog named Pickles sniffing under bushes
- Final disappearance in 1983 when robbers smashed its bulletproof case in Brazil
Seriously, this trophy had more adventures than Indiana Jones.
The Modern Trophy Switch
After Brazil got to keep the original in 1970 (big mistake apparently), FIFA needed a new one. Spent months looking at 53 submissions from seven countries. The winner design was so symbolic – two human figures holding up the earth. Looks kinda like a squat Michelin man to me but whatever. Official name is “FIFA World Cup Trophy” but sounds boring so I call it the Soccer Globe.
What’s New About It
The current trophy has some slick upgrades:
- Made of solid 18k gold instead of silver with gold plating
- Weighs over 13 pounds – players almost throw their backs out lifting it
- Base has space to engrave winners until 2038
Fun fact: winners only get a gold-plated replica while FIFA keeps the real one locked in Zurich. Winners get the real deal for like 10 minutes during celebrations. Total tease if you ask me.
My Big Takeaway
After tracing this whole journey, I’m just amazed that trophy survived world wars, thefts, and dog bites. The new one feels more corporate but that old Jules Rimet had chaotic energy. Both perfectly capture soccer’s drama though – crazy history wrapped in shiny metal.