World Cup Trophy 2026 Guide: History, Design, Winners and the Race to Lift Football’s Greatest Prize

World Cup Trophy: Why It Is the Most Famous Prize in Football


The World Cup trophy is the most iconic symbol in international football. It represents national glory, tournament pressure, generational greatness and the dream every footballer grows up chasing. At the FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, 48 teams will compete for the right to lift the most coveted trophy in the sport.
The trophy is more than a piece of silverware. It is the object lifted by legends such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi. It is also the prize that modern stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior continue to chase.
According to FIFA’s official article on the story of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, the trophy represents the highest achievement in the global game. In 2026, that symbolism becomes even bigger because the expanded tournament creates the largest World Cup field in history.


What Is the FIFA World Cup Trophy?


The current FIFA World Cup Trophy is the prize awarded to the men’s World Cup champions. It was introduced for the 1974 World Cup after Brazil earned permanent possession of the original Jules Rimet Trophy by winning their third title in 1970.
The current trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga. Its design shows two human figures lifting the Earth, a visual symbol of victory, global unity and sporting excellence.
FIFA’s official trophy history explains that the current World Cup Trophy has become one of the most recognizable objects in global sport. Its shape, gold color and emotional meaning make it instantly identifiable, even to casual football fans.


World Cup Trophy Design, Material and Size


The FIFA World Cup Trophy is famous for its elegant but powerful design. It stands roughly 36.8 centimeters tall and weighs about 6.175 kilograms. It is made of 18-carat gold with green malachite bands at the base.
The design is compact, but its meaning is enormous. The two figures rising upward toward the globe represent the universal nature of football and the moment of victory. Unlike many sports trophies, the World Cup Trophy does not rely on size alone. Its power comes from history, rarity and what it takes to win it.
The trophy is also closely protected. The original remains under FIFA ownership, and winning teams receive a winners’ trophy replica rather than permanently keeping the original. This protects the trophy’s historical continuity while allowing champions to celebrate and preserve their achievement.


The Jules Rimet Trophy: The Original World Cup Prize


Before the current trophy existed, World Cup winners received the Jules Rimet Trophy. The original trophy was first awarded in 1930, when Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup.
The trophy was originally known as Victory before being renamed after Jules Rimet, the FIFA president who played a central role in creating the World Cup. It featured Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and became the symbol of the tournament’s early decades.
The Jules Rimet Trophy had a dramatic history. It was hidden during wartime, stolen in England before the 1966 World Cup, recovered by a dog named Pickles, then later awarded permanently to Brazil after their third World Cup title in 1970.
After Brazil kept the Jules Rimet Trophy, FIFA commissioned a new design. That led to the current World Cup Trophy, first used in 1974.


Why Brazil Kept the Original World Cup Trophy


Brazil earned the right to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently after winning the World Cup for the third time in 1970. That team, led by Pelé, is still considered one of the greatest football teams ever assembled.
Brazil’s 1970 triumph completed a sequence of World Cup wins in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Under the rules at the time, a nation that won the tournament three times could keep the trophy.
That decision created the need for a new trophy. The current FIFA World Cup Trophy was then introduced in 1974 and has been used ever since.
The original Jules Rimet Trophy was later stolen in Brazil in 1983 and has never been recovered. Its disappearance adds another layer of mystery to World Cup trophy history.


Who Has Lifted the Current World Cup Trophy?


The current FIFA World Cup Trophy has been lifted by champions since 1974. Some of the most memorable winners include West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978 and 1986, Brazil in 1994 and 2002, France in 1998 and 2018, Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014 and Argentina in 2022.
Each winning moment is connected to a legendary player or generation.
Franz Beckenbauer lifted it for West Germany in 1974. Diego Maradona lifted it for Argentina in 1986. Dunga lifted it for Brazil in 1994. Zinedine Zidane became the face of France’s 1998 triumph. Iker Casillas lifted it for Spain in 2010. Philipp Lahm lifted it for Germany in 2014. Hugo Lloris lifted it for France in 2018. Lionel Messi lifted it for Argentina in 2022.
Those images are part of why the World Cup trophy carries such emotional power. It is not just a prize. It is the final image of football immortality.


Argentina and Messi: The Current World Cup Trophy Holders


Argentina enter the FIFA World Cup 2026 as defending champions after winning the trophy in Qatar 2022. That victory completed Lionel Messi’s World Cup journey and gave Argentina their third title.
Messi’s image holding and kissing the trophy became one of the defining sports photographs of the modern era. For Argentina, the 2022 triumph was not only about ending a 36-year wait. It was also about crowning one of the greatest football careers ever.
In 2026, Argentina will try to defend the trophy. That is one of the hardest tasks in football history. No men’s team has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Argentina’s title defense will rely not only on Messi, but also on players such as Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Cristian Romero and Emiliano Martínez.


World Cup Trophy 2026: Who Can Win It?


The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first edition with 48 teams, which makes the race for the trophy more complex than ever. More teams, more matches and a new Round of 32 mean the eventual champion must manage a longer path.
Several teams stand out as leading contenders.
Argentina
Argentina are the defending champions and still have elite tournament experience. If Messi remains decisive and the squad around him stays balanced, Argentina can make another deep run.
France
France are one of the strongest candidates to win the trophy. With Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and other elite talents, France have speed, depth and knockout experience.
England
England have one of the deepest squads in the tournament. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice give the Three Lions a strong chance if they manage pressure well.
Spain
Spain combine possession control with exciting young talent. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Pedri and Nico Williams make La Roja one of the most technically dangerous teams.
Brazil
Brazil are always linked with the World Cup trophy. With attacking players such as Vinícius Júnior and a long history of World Cup success, Brazil remain one of the most watched contenders.
Portugal
Portugal have star power and depth. Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias give Portugal the quality to compete with any opponent.


Why the World Cup Trophy Is So Difficult to Win


Winning the World Cup trophy requires more than talent. The champion must survive seven or eight matches, different playing styles, pressure, travel, injuries, fatigue and knockout drama.
A team must usually have five ingredients.
First, it needs elite players. Almost every World Cup winner has at least one player capable of deciding major matches.
Second, it needs defensive stability. Knockout football is often decided by one mistake.
Third, it needs squad depth. The 2026 format makes this even more important because the tournament path is longer.
Fourth, it needs emotional control. Penalties, late goals and hostile atmospheres can break even talented teams.
Fifth, it needs timing. The champion usually grows into the tournament and peaks in the knockout rounds.


World Cup Trophy and the Golden Boot Race


The World Cup trophy and the Golden Boot race are closely connected. Players on teams that go deep often have more chances to score. That is why Golden Boot candidates are usually linked to title contenders.
At the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland and Julián Álvarez are among the names most likely to attract attention.
A player can win the Golden Boot without winning the trophy, but the deepest tournament runs create the best scoring opportunities. If France, Argentina, England, Portugal or Brazil reach the final stages, their forwards will have more chances to dominate the scoring race.


World Cup Trophy and Prediction Markets


The World Cup trophy is central to football prediction markets because tournament winner predictions are among the most popular long-term football markets. Predicting the champion requires more than picking the strongest squad. It requires understanding form, bracket paths, injuries, tactical matchups and knockout pressure.
Football prediction participants can explore World Cup markets through the official MEXC sports prediction page. The broader MEXC Prediction Markets section covers event-based markets across different categories.
For those new to prediction markets, What Is MEXC Prediction Markets: A Beginner’s Guide explains how event-based markets work and how outcomes are structured.
MEXC has also launched MEXC Global Football 2026: Predict the World Cup 2026 and Share a 1,360,000 USDT Prize Pool, a campaign focused on World Cup 2026 prediction events and football-related market participation.
For World Cup trophy markets, the most important angles include tournament winner predictions, finalist predictions, group-stage performance, knockout bracket paths, top scorer markets and team progression.


World Cup Trophy Records and Historical Meaning


The World Cup trophy is connected to some of football’s greatest records.
Brazil have won the men’s World Cup more times than any other nation. Germany and Italy also have rich trophy histories. Argentina and France are modern powers with multiple titles and strong recent records.
Individual players are judged partly by their relationship with the trophy. Pelé is the only player to win three men’s World Cups. Maradona’s 1986 triumph remains one of the greatest individual tournament runs. Messi’s 2022 victory completed a career-long chase. Mbappé already has one trophy and has played in two finals.
The trophy therefore shapes how football history is written. It can confirm greatness, transform legacies and define generations.


Can a New Nation Lift the World Cup Trophy in 2026?


The expanded 2026 format increases opportunities for more nations, but winning the trophy remains extremely difficult. A new champion would need to beat several elite teams in knockout matches.
Countries such as England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia and Uruguay may believe they have the quality to challenge. Some have already won before; others are still chasing their first title or first modern-era breakthrough.
The tournament format may create surprise quarter-finalists or semi-finalists, but lifting the trophy usually demands elite squad depth and experience. A first-time winner is possible, but the traditional powers remain the strongest candidates.


Final Thoughts: Why the World Cup Trophy Still Defines Football Greatness


The World Cup trophy remains the most powerful symbol in football because it is so difficult to win. Club trophies can be won every year, but the World Cup arrives only once every four years. A player may get only three or four realistic chances in an entire career.
At the FIFA World Cup 2026, the trophy will again define legacies. Messi will try to defend it. Mbappé will try to reclaim it. Kane, Bellingham, Ronaldo, Haaland, Yamal, Vinícius and other stars will try to move closer to football immortality.
The expanded tournament will bring more teams, more matches and more stories. But the final goal remains unchanged: lift the World Cup trophy and become part of football history.


FAQ


What is the World Cup trophy called?
The current prize is officially known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy. The original trophy was called the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Who designed the current World Cup trophy?
The current FIFA World Cup Trophy was designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga.
When was the current World Cup trophy first used?
The current trophy was first used at the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
What happened to the Jules Rimet Trophy?
Brazil earned permanent possession of the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning their third World Cup in 1970. The trophy was later stolen in Brazil in 1983 and has never been recovered.
Who currently holds the World Cup trophy?
Argentina are the current holders after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Can Argentina keep the World Cup trophy permanently?
No. The current FIFA World Cup Trophy remains FIFA property. Winners receive a winners’ trophy replica rather than permanently keeping the original.
Who are the favorites to win the World Cup trophy in 2026?
Leading contenders include Argentina, France, England, Spain, Brazil and Portugal.
Where can World Cup prediction markets be found?
World Cup-related prediction markets can be explored through the MEXC sports prediction page.