FIFA World Cup Trophy

The Jules Rimet trophy was the original physical manifestation of the prize for winning the football world cup, a small gold cup representing the hopes and ambitions of every footballing nation on earth. It is named after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who in 1929 passed a vote to initiate the competition. It was designed by Abel Lafleur, made of pure gold and depicted Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory.

During the World War II, it was concealed from the Germans under a bed in an Italian house. During a public exhibition just before the 1966 World Cup Final in England the trophy was stolen, but it was later found in a dustbin by a dog named "Pickles." The Brazilian team won the trophy in perpetuity in 1970, being rewarded for being the only team ever to have won three World Cups. However the cup was stolen again in 1983 and never recovered: it may have been smelted.

The replacement trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga and is made of 5kg of solid gold and malachite, depicting two human figures holding up the Earth. FIFA is unlikely to give it away again: the winners of the tournament receive it in loan for four years and receive a replica to keep.