The modern FIFA World Cup trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga in the early 1970s to replace the original Jules Rimet trophy [1].
The transition between these two icons represents more than a change in hardware. It marks a shift in the artistic identity of the world's most popular sport and follows a period of instability for the original prize.
Giorgio Gazzaniga, son of the designer, said the original Jules Rimet trophy was an expression of art nouveau. He said his father wanted to create a new version that reflected the spirit of art in the 20th century [1]. This new design was first awarded at the 1974 World Cup [1].
The need for a new trophy became apparent after the Jules Rimet cup was permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970 [1]. However, the original trophy had already faced a major crisis years earlier. On March 20, 1966, the trophy was stolen in England [2, 3].
This theft occurred four months before the 1966 tournament began [2]. The incident created a national panic in the host country until the trophy was recovered. Reports said a dog named Pickles saved the trophy after it was stolen [3].
Silvio Gazzaniga developed the current trophy in the Milan area of Italy [1]. While Gazzaniga is credited with the design, some records associate the production with GDE Bertoni, a small family-run firm near Milan [1].
The current trophy remains the gold standard for international achievement in football, embodying the modern era of the game through its distinct geometry, and artistic intent.
“The Jules Rimet trophy was an expression of art nouveau.”
The shift from the Jules Rimet trophy to the Gazzaniga design reflects FIFA's desire to modernize its image following the expansion of the game's global reach. The recovery of the 1966 trophy by a dog and the subsequent permanent awarding of the original cup to Brazil in 1970 created a historical vacuum that necessitated a new, more secure, and artistically contemporary symbol of victory.
