Does Every Player in the World Cup Get a Trophy?
If you‘re new to soccer and watching your first World Cup, you may be wondering – does every player get that glorious golden trophy they lift up when they win?
The short answer is no. But let‘s dive deeper into the iconic trophies and prizes awarded at the quadrennial FIFA World Cup tournament.
Only One Solid Gold Trophy
There is only one real World Cup trophy made of solid 18K gold valued at $20 million. It remains in FIFA‘s possession at all times and is simply loaned out to the victorious nation for ceremonies and celebrations after the final.
The winning team does get to take home a replica trophy made of bronze or brass plated in gold. They don‘t get to keep the coveted original forever…well almost.
When Brazil Got to Keep the Jules Rimet Trophy
The World Cup trophy wasn‘t always the iconic gold one you see today. From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded, named after the Frenchman who started the tournament.
It was made of solid gold on a blue base encircled by the flags of past winners. After Brazil won their 3rd championship in 1970, they were allowed to keep the original Jules Rimet Trophy for good, as stipulated by Rimet himself.
The trophy was stolen in 1983 and never recovered. Some claim it was melted down. Brazil now displays a replica as the original holds such significance for their soccer history.
The New Trophy You See Today
With Brazil retiring the original, FIFA commissioned a new trophy design in 1971. Created by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, the FIFA World Cup Trophy was first awarded in 1974 to West Germany.
The 13.7 inch high trophy depicts two human figures holding up the earth. It‘s made of 11 pounds of 18K gold with a malachite base. The current estimated value is $20 million.
While only one real solid gold trophy exists, FIFA also awards gold medals to each player on the winning team.
Gold Medals for Players
Now let‘s get back to the original question – does every player get a trophy?
While they don‘t get the real trophy, all players on the TOP THREE teams do receive commemOrative medals:
- Gold medals for the champions
- Silver for the runners up
- Bronze for third place
The gold medals contain around 6 grams of gold each. With about 400 medals awarded, that‘s $120,000 worth of gold!
More Awards and Prize Money
In addition to trophies and medals, there are also individual awards given out:
- The Golden Ball for the best player
- The Golden Boot for the top goal scorer
- The Golden Glove for best goalkeeper
And every team in the tournament receives prize money from FIFA just for competing, ranging from $9 million for group stage teams to $42 million for the winners!
But no prize can match the prestige and honor of lifting that magnificent solid gold World Cup Trophy as the champion of the entire soccer world!