While the World Cup games have always fascinated many spectators, the
trophies awarded to both the best team and the best players have also drawn in
a lot of curiosity. So what’s the story behind these awards? Let’s go ahead and
find out.
The World Cup
At 6.175 kg and 36.8 cm, the World Cup is pretty light as far as
sporting trophies are concerned. However, it is by no means inexpensive. The
whole trophy is covered in 18-carat gold, which certainly makes it more than
valuable. When asked about it, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke refused to
give an exact figure on how much the trophy actually costs. He goes on to say
that it being unique already makes the World Cup priceless.
Nevertheless, this has not stopped unscrupulous individuals from trying
to steal the World Cup. In fact, the current trophy handed to the winners of
the quadrennial meet is already the second one. The first one (enthusiastically
referred to as the Jules Rimet, after the FIFA president) was first stolen in
1966, though discovered a few days later hidden in the bushes. The trophy would
be stolen for a second time in 1983 in Brazil (where it was housed permanently
as a reward for the country winning it three times). However, this time around,
it was never recovered and no one knows its whereabouts ever since.
Luckily though, FIFA officials were quick to act the first time the
trophy had been stolen. As early as before the 1974 World Cup, the organization
has already commissioned Italian artist Silvio Gazaniga to create a design for
the new trophy, only referred to as the World Cup. FIFA has also kept the
trophy under tight watch ever since.
The FIFA Ballon d’ Or
Just like the World Cup, plenty of painstaking man-hours crafting the
trophy that is to be awarded to the best player of the season. The task of
building the trophy goes to the esteemed Mellerio dits meller group of
jewellers. The design is pretty much the same as that of the original trophy handed
to Alfredo Di Stefano in 1956, when the award was still known as simply the
World Cup Best Player of the year. It waqs only this year that the award was
renamed after it was combined with the independent Ballon d’ Or award given by
France Football magazine.
When the 31 cm high trophy is given to this year’s recipient, his name
will be first placed on the plaque attached to the plith at the bottom. After
the formal ceremonies, his name will finally be permanently engraved on the top
bauble, and he earns the right to permanently display it on his shelf for all
to see.
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