How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy that became an icon

The iconic FIFA World Cup trophy design traces back to an Italian sculptor, Silvio Gazzaniga, whose spiraling artwork was built to embody three emotions: the athlete’s struggle, the fan’s jubilation, and the moment of victory. On Monday morning, the winner of the 2026 World Cup final—either Spain or Argentina—will lift the trophy, now instantly recognizable from generations of fans. FIFA launched an open competition after Brazil took permanent possession of the original trophy by winning a third World Cup in 1970. Gazzaniga submitted the only complete model, combining symbolism with form: two figures rise toward an orb representing the Earth, described by his son Giorgio as akin to DNA spirals. The finished trophy is 36 cm tall, cast in 18-carat gold, with a base featuring two rings of green malachite. The original prototype and drawings are preserved in Gazzaniga’s former office outside Milan. FIFA keeps the trophy at its Swiss headquarters between tournaments.