As the biggest event in international football, the FIFA World Cup captivates millions of fans around the globe every four years. And at the heart of it all is one highly coveted prize: the golden trophy. It was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and made by the Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni company. It was first presented to Germany after they won the 1974 World Cup. But have you ever wondered just how much gold is actually in that shiny trophy of the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament?
Value of FIFA World Cup Trophy
Well, it may surprise you to learn that the FIFA World Cup trophy is not solid gold and it is hollow inside. In fact, it stands at a mere 36.5 centimeters tall and is made of 18 karats (75%) gold, weighing a total of 6.175 kilograms. It has bands of malachite on its base, which is 13 centimeters in diameter.
While this may not seem like a lot, the current market value for this amount of gold is a whopping $161,000 (around 1 crore and 70 lacs taka).
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History of FIFA Football World Cup Trophy
What makes this trophy even more valuable is its history and significance. First introduced in 1974, it has been awarded to World Cup winning teams for over 40 years now. Only six countries have managed to claim it multiple times: Brazil (5 times), Germany (3 times), Italy (2 times), Argentina (2 times), Uruguay (2 times) and Spain (1 time).
In the past, the winning team would keep possession of the trophy until the final draw of the next tournament. However, that is no longer the case. Now, each winner of the World Cup receives a gold plated bronze replica than solid gold. The original trophy remains in FIFA’s possession and is brought out for display at each subsequent World Cup tournament.
So, while it may not be solid gold, there's no doubt that the FIFA's Football World Cup Trophy holds immense value both monetarily and sentimentally.