How do they make the FIFA World Cup trophy?

Football fever is back with the European Championships well underway. It’s a big deal, but it’s not quite the sport’s grandest prize. That title belongs, of course, to the World Cup. The biggest sporting event in the world has a trophy to match.

This is how it’s made.

world cup trophy
The FIFA World Cup is pictured at the city hall on May 25, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany. The FIFA World Cup will be presented to the public on May 26, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It feels like less than eighteen months ago that Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar. It was the cherry on top of what many already believed to be the best career in football history, as Messi joined some of the game’s most illustrious names and faces in lifting the storied trophy. 

Soon after the World Cup, we visited the headquarters of GDE Bertoni, a small family-run firm located on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. GDE Bertoni are the designers behind the iconic World  Cup. 

world cup trophy maradona
Argentine professional football player Diego Armando Maradona (1960 – 2020) holds the World Cup trophy after Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 during the 1986 FIFA World Cup Final match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, 29th June 1986. (Photo by Bongarts/Getty Images)

The current owner of GDE Bertoni is Valentina Losa, whose great-grandfather founded the factory at the turn of the century. The dedication and craftsmanship has been passed down through generations, ensuring that these trophies remain symbols of triumph cherished by athletes worldwide.

The FIFA World Cup trophy was first created by Silvio Gazzaniga in 1971 and remains football’s ultimate prize, at the center of the sport’s most timeless moments.


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For GDE Bertoni, it is just one of the trophies they have made, if still their most famous creation. Yet for the last 50 years, each trophy has been forged from the same hard work, determination, and the pursuit of excellence. 

Join us in celebrating the enduring legacy of this extraordinary factory and the inspiring individuals who pour their hearts and souls into making these prestigious awards possible in the video below!

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