Jules Rimet Trophy

Jules Rimet Trophy. The original prize for winning the FIFA World Cup, it was named in 1946 to honor Jules Rimet, the French president of FIFA who pioneered the tournament. Crafted from gold-plated sterling silver, it depicted the Greek goddess Nike and was awarded from the inaugural 1930 event until the 1970 final. Following Brazil's third World Cup victory in 1970, the trophy was permanently awarded to the Brazilian Football Confederation, after which it was replaced by the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

History and creation

The trophy was commissioned by FIFA ahead of the first 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. French sculptor Abel Lafleur was chosen to create the prize, which was originally named "Victory" but commonly called "The World Cup" or "The Golden Goddess." In 1946, the FIFA Congress in Luxembourg voted to rename it in honor of Jules Rimet, marking his 25th anniversary as president and recognizing his instrumental role in founding the competition. The trophy was present at every tournament from the inaugural final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo through the 1970 final at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. During World War II, the trophy was hidden by Ottorino Barassi, the Italian vice-president of FIFA, in a shoe box under his bed to prevent its seizure by Nazi forces.

Design and description

The trophy was designed by Abel Lafleur in the Art Deco style. It stood 35 centimeters tall and weighed approximately 3.8 kilograms, crafted from gold-plated sterling silver on a base of lapis lazuli. The central figure was a winged representation of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace held at the Louvre. Nike stood atop an octagonal cup, holding a laurel wreath aloft. The base featured engraved gold plates, which were added after each tournament to record the names of the winning nations, including Uruguay, Italy, West Germany, and England.

Theft and recovery

The trophy was stolen on two notable occasions. First, prior to the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, it was taken from a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall in London. It was discovered a week later wrapped in newspaper by a dog named Pickles in a garden in South London. The second and final theft occurred after the trophy was permanently awarded to Brazil. In 1983, it was stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro. Despite extensive investigations by Brazilian police, including the Federal Police of Brazil, it was never recovered and is widely believed to have been melted down. Four men were convicted for the crime, but only the replica base was ever found.

Replacement and legacy

After Brazil's third World Cup win at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, they were granted permanent possession as stipulated by the original rules set by Jules Rimet. This necessitated the creation of a new trophy, leading FIFA to commission the current FIFA World Cup Trophy, designed by Silvio Gazzaniga, which was first awarded at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. The legacy of the original prize endures; it remains a potent symbol of football's early global history and the triumphs of legends like Pelé, Garrincha, and Bobby Moore. A gold-plated replica, commissioned by the Brazilian Football Confederation in 1984, is now displayed at their headquarters, while the story of its thefts and recoveries has become a permanent part of World Cup folklore. Category:FIFA World Cup trophies and awards Category:Stolen artworks