What Is the Most Expensive Trophy in Sports?

What Is the Most Expensive Trophy in Sports?

Whether you call it football or soccer, it's no secret that this sport offers some of the biggest pay packages on Earth. Last year, Lionel Messi was the second highest paid sportsman on the planet, pocketing a whopping $111 million in pay and endorsements.

It's no surprise then that the most expensive trophy in sports is the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Find out more about this prestigious trinket that can bring grown men to tears - both on and off the field.

 

History of the World's Most Expensive Trophy

The FIFA World Cup Association Football tournament originated in 1930 but the current trophy only came into play during 1974.

The original trophy, called the Jules Rimet Trophy, was a simple creation made of sterling silver and lapis lazuli. The Greek Goddess of victory, Nike, embellished the design.

In 1970, the Brazilian team won the World Cup for the third time running. This meant that they got to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy forever.

After this, FIFA had to come up with a replacement before the 1974 World Cup and they put the word out that they needed a new design.

Italian artist, Silvio Gazzaniga, beat 53 other submissions from 7 countries, to become the originator of the world's most valuable trophy.

 

The Design

GDE Bertoni in Milan was responsible for forging the trophy. It is a 14.4-inch-high masterpiece made from 11lbs of 18-carat gold. The base is solid and consists of 2 layers of malachite.

The custom design depicts two athletes reaching out to embrace the Earth and has come to symbolize the aspirations of all the world's football players. Today, experts believe the trophy is worth around $ 20 million.

The materials that make up the trophy are worth nowhere near that. The value lies in the custom design and what the trophy has come to represent.

 

Other Amazing Trophies

After the FIFA World Cup, the Woodlawn Vase, awarded to the winner of the Preakness Stakes horse race, is the world's most valuable trophy.

London's Tiffany & Co. designed this ornate 36-inch sterling silver trophy in 1861. It is worth about $ 4 million today.

Between races, the trophy remains at the Baltimore Museum of Art in Maryland. It arrives at the racetrack in the company of Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers and Air National Guard Airmen.

Other expensive sports trophies include:

  • The Stanley Cup at $650,000
  • The Lombardi Trophy (Super Bowl Trophy) valued at $ 50,000
  • The NBA Championship Trophy which is worth $13,500

Find out more about some of the most expensive and biggest trophies in sports when you read our blog.

 

It's the Thought That Counts

Despite the value of these exquisite trophies, the sentiment behind them is what really counts.

These priceless awards symbolise reaching the highest peaks in sports, and it's that recognition that really counts. The same applies when you choose award your employees and teammates with tokens of appreciation.

It's not the trophy cost that counts. You don't need the most expensive trophy to help people feel appreciated.

Our catalogue of trophies and medals is bound to include something that suits your style and budget.