Behind the most desired trophy in world football is the genius of Made in Italy
When the captain of the winning national team raises the FIFA World Cup to the sky, billions of
people witness one of the most iconic moments in sport. Few, however, know that that symbol
universal of victory was born in Italy, thanks to the creativity of a Milanese sculptor and the mastery
of a company that represents one of the most authentic excellences of Made in Italy.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is not just a sporting trophy: it is a work of art, an artefact that
it encompasses design, craftsmanship and innovation. For over fifty years it has been the result of knowing how to do
Italian.
The birth of an icon
In 1970 Brazil won its third world title and, according to the current regulation, acquired
definitively the historic Jules Rimet Cup. FIFA then decided to hold a competition
international to design a new trophy to represent the World Championship
starting from the 1974 edition.
The winning project was the project of the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, an artist trained at the Academy
of Brera and collaborator of the historic company GDE Bertoni of Paderno Dugnano, at the gates of
Milan. His design surpassed over fifty proposals from all over the world.
Gazzaniga’s idea was as simple as it was powerful: two human figures who, in an impetus towards
the high, they support the terrestrial globe. An image that encapsulates the athlete’s toil, the joy of the
victory and the universal value of sport.
As the artist himself explained:
«The lines spring from the base, develop in a spiral, reaching out towards the world. From the
significant dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture emerge the figures of two athletes
in the exhilarating moment of victory.»
A masterpiece of Made in Italy
The original trophy measures 36.8 centimeters, weighs approximately 6.2 kilograms and is made of 18-karat gold, with a base composed of two rings of green malachite, an ornamental stone
which gives elegance and recognizability to the work.
Contrary to what many imagine, the world champion team does not retain
the original. The authentic trophy remains the property of FIFA and is kept in Zurich. The winners come
An official gold-plated replica, also made in Italy, was delivered.
Where the World Cup is born
Production is entrusted to GDE Bertoni, a historic Lombard company founded at the beginning of the
Twentieth century and today led by the fourth generation of the family. The enterprise established itself in the
international panorama thanks to the design and creation of trophies and medals for the most
major world sports federations, including FIFA, UEFA, IOC and World Athletics.
In the Paderno Dugnano workshop, artisanal tradition and contemporary technologies coexist.
Each World Cup replica requires numerous processing steps: modeling, casting,
finishing, chiseling, polishing and plating. Every detail is checked manually,
according to a process that preserves the value of Italian artisanal work.
Design, precision and craftsmanship
The history of the World Cup represents an emblematic example of what makes Made in
Italy recognized worldwide: the ability to transform a functional object into a symbol
cultural.
The strength of this project lies not only in the precious materials, but in the balance between aesthetics,
technique and meaning. The same Bertoni company has created numerous other trophies over time
international, confirming Italy’s leadership in designing prestigious sports awards.
A symbol that tells the story of Italy
Every four years the world watches the World Cup go through stadiums, the hands of champions
and photographs destined to enter the history of sport. Behind that image, however, there is a
profoundly Italian story.
There is the talent of a sculptor who has been able to transform an emotion into a form destined to
become immortal. There is the expertise of a family business which, for over a century, has guarded
the value of Italian manufacturing. And there is a heritage of creativity, precision and work culture
which continues to make Made in Italy an international reference point.
The World Cup is not only the most coveted trophy in football. It is one of the most extraordinary
silent ambassadors of Italian excellence in the world: a work that demonstrates how merit, the
design and craftsmanship can transform a sports symbol into a universal icon.