The answer has been surprisingly difficult to track down. One major theory is that the origin of trophy dated back to ancient Greece, when people were well acquainted with wars against invaders and themselves. For many centuries, when the winner conquered a place, a “trophy” was simply something of one’s enemy—a piece of armor, perhaps, or occasionally a body part—that was displayed after a battle as a tangible proof of triumph. This may, of course, have been a cup on occasion. An alternative theory is advanced by Ian Pickford (of Antiques Roadshow fame). According to Pickford, the modern trophy cup was based on the two-handled “ox-eye” college cup design from the 17th century.

The FIFA World Cup trophy today is not the original prize for winning the world cup, but the Jules Rimet Trophy was. It comprised an octagonal cup supported by a winged figure representing Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory. The first team to be awarded the trophy were Uruguay, the winners of the 1930 World Cup. On 20 March 1966, four months before the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, the trophy was stolen during a public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall. The trophy was found just seven days later wrapped in newspaper at the bottom of a suburban garden hedge in Upper Norwood, South London, by a dog named Pickles.

A replacement trophy, which depicts two human figures holding up the Earth, was commissioned by FIFA for the 1974 World Cup. It was first presented to West German captain Franz Beckenbauer. Traditionally the Cup will be passed from one winning team to the next. The current holder of the trophy is Italy, winner of the 2006 World Cup.

(Cam Chi – Collect from the internet and compile)