Every four years, billions of fans watch the FIFA World Cup final, waiting for that magical moment when the captain lifts football’s most iconic prize.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is more than just silverware — it’s a symbol of national pride, legacy, and immortality.
But what most fans don’t know is that there have actually been two different World Cup trophies. And one of them — the original, the Jules Rimet Trophy — has a history straight out of a Hollywood crime thriller.
This “forgotten trophy” survived a World War hidden in a shoebox, got stolen on the eve of England’s first and only World Cup win, was found by a dog named Pickles, awarded permanently to Brazil, and then… stolen again, possibly melted down forever.
So, how did the Jules Rimet Trophy become both football’s greatest symbol and its greatest mystery? Let’s rewind.
The Origins of the Jules Rimet Trophy (1930–1970)
When FIFA president Jules Rimet first pushed through the idea of a global football tournament in 1928, he knew it needed a symbol. French sculptor Abel Lafleur was tasked with designing the first-ever World Cup trophy.
Lafleur’s design featured Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, lifting a golden vessel above her head. Standing 35 cm tall and weighing 3.8 kg, the trophy was gold-plated sterling silver with a lapis lazuli base.
Initially called Victory (or simply the Coupe du Monde), it was later renamed in 1946 to honor Jules Rimet’s 25 years at FIFA.
From Uruguay’s first triumph in 1930 to Brazil’s dominance in the 1950s and ’60s, this trophy was the holy grail of football. But behind the glory came chaos.
World War II — The Trophy in a Shoebox
When World War II broke out, fears grew that the Nazis might seize the Jules Rimet Trophy. Enter Ottorino Barassi, FIFA vice-president and Italian football official.
Barassi quietly smuggled the trophy out of a bank vault in Rome and hid it in a shoebox under his bed for the entire duration of the war.
Had he been caught, the trophy might have been lost forever. Instead, thanks to one man’s quick thinking, the World Cup survived the world’s darkest years.
The 1966 Theft in England — Pickles the Hero Dog
The Jules Rimet Trophy’s closest brush with disaster came in 1966 — ironically, the year England hosted the World Cup.
The trophy was on public display at Westminster’s Central Hall when thieves struck. They bypassed £3 million worth of rare stamps and took only the trophy, valued at £30,000.
A ransom note soon arrived, demanding £15,000. A petty thief named Edward Betchley was arrested, but the trophy remained missing.
That’s when fate — and a dog — intervened.
A week later, Pickles, a black-and-white collie, sniffed out a package wrapped in newspaper under a car in South London. Inside? The Jules Rimet Trophy.
Thanks to Pickles, Bobby Moore lifted the original trophy at Wembley after England beat West Germany in the final. The dog became a national hero, appearing on TV shows and even attending the England victory banquet.
Brazil’s Prize and the Final Disappearance (1970–1983)
Brazil became the first team to win the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, 1970), which meant they got to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.
The trophy was housed at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. But in 1983, thieves struck again — this time for good.
Despite being kept in a glass case, the trophy was stolen and never recovered. The leading theory? It was melted down into gold bars by criminals.
For football, it was like losing the Mona Lisa.
FIFA’s Expensive Mistake — Buying Back a Fake
In 1997, FIFA thought they’d found redemption. At an auction in London, what was claimed to be the long-lost Jules Rimet Trophy went up for sale. FIFA paid £254,000 to reclaim what they believed was history.
Except… it wasn’t. Experts later confirmed it was just a replica — one of several that FIFA themselves had commissioned decades earlier.
The governing body of world football had just been scammed into buying their own copy.
What Remains of the Original Trophy?
Today, the only authentic piece of Abel Lafleur’s Jules Rimet Trophy is the original base, swapped out in 1954 for a taller version.
In 2015, it was discovered in the basement of FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich.
It’s the last surviving relic of the trophy that once defined football history.
The Current FIFA World Cup Trophy (1974–Present)
After Brazil claimed the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1970, FIFA commissioned a new design. Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga created the current trophy: two human figures holding up the Earth.
First awarded in 1974, this version is still in use today. Standing 36.8 cm tall and weighing 6.1 kg of solid 18-carat gold, it’s worth millions.
But unlike the Jules Rimet, no team can keep it permanently. Winners receive a gold-plated replica, while the original stays with FIFA. Lesson learned.
FAQ:
What was the Jules Rimet Trophy?
It was the original World Cup trophy, designed by Abel Lafleur, awarded from 1930 to 1970.
Why was it renamed the Jules Rimet Trophy?
In 1946, it was renamed in honor of FIFA president Jules Rimet’s 25th year in office.
What happened to the Jules Rimet Trophy?
Brazil kept it permanently after winning their third World Cup in 1970, but in 1983 it was stolen from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The original trophy was never recovered and is widely believed to have been melted down.
Conclusion
The Jules Rimet Trophy is more than a piece of gold and silver. It’s a story of survival, theft, betrayal, and even a heroic dog.
From a shoebox in Rome to a London backstreet, from Brazil’s glory to its mysterious disappearance, this “forgotten trophy” carries a history richer than any Hollywood script.
The next time you see a captain lift the current FIFA World Cup Trophy, remember — it wasn’t always this one.
Once upon a time, football’s greatest prize had a wild, dangerous, and unforgettable life of its own.
And maybe, just maybe, the Jules Rimet is still out there.
