What is the World Cup trophy made of, and does the winner keep it?
The World Cup trophy is made of 18-carat solid gold, stands 36.8 cm (14.4 in) tall and weighs about 6.1 kg (13.6 lb), with two rings of green malachite at the base. The winners don't keep it — they receive a gold-plated replica, while the original stays with FIFA.
- 1The current trophy is made of 18-carat gold and weighs about 6.1 kg (13.6 lb)[1]
- 2It stands 36.8 cm (14.4 in) tall, with a base ringed by two bands of malachite[1]
- 3It was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and first awarded in 1974[1]
- 4Champions receive a gold-plated bronze replica; the original returns to FIFA[1]
- 5Winners' names are engraved on the underside of the base — with room for entries through 2038[2]
The trophy you see captains lifting is the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and it has only been around since 1974.
What's it made of?
18-carat solid gold, standing about 36.8 cm (14.4 in) tall and weighing roughly 6.1 kg (13.6 lb), with two rings of green malachite wrapping the base.
Does the winner keep it?
No. After the celebrations and photos, the original goes back to FIFA, and the champion nation receives a gold-plated replica. Winners' names are engraved on the base — with space said to last only to 2038.
Why isn't the original kept?
It replaced the Jules Rimet Trophy, which Brazil kept permanently after three titles — and which was later stolen and never recovered. The gold alone is worth a six-figure sum, but as an icon it's effectively priceless.
This is a big cultural difference. In the NFL each Super Bowl winner keeps its own Vince Lombardi Trophy forever, and the NBA hands over a brand-new Larry O'Brien Trophy every year. The World Cup is the opposite: there is one trophy, it belongs to FIFA, and you only borrow it. The closest American parallel is the Stanley Cup — a single historic trophy that is shared, engraved, and handed back.
- FIFA Museum — The FIFA World Cup Trophy(accessed 2026-06-13)
- BBC — The story of the World Cup trophy(accessed 2026-06-13)