Silvio Gazzaniga – Hands that shaped glory
Silvio Gazzaniga may not be as instantly recognisable a name as Pelé or Maradona, but his creation is arguably the most iconic and recognised object in global sports. The Italian sculptor designed and created the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
The need for a new trophy arose after the FIFA World Cup 1970, when Brazil won its third title. Under the rules of the time, the Canarinha had the right to keep the original Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.
To replace the famous trophy, FIFA launched a design competition for a successor. Silvio Gazzaniga, a sculptor with experience in creating medals and trophies, was one of many submitters, but he stood apart. He not only sent the requested outline design, but also a photo of a prototype. He won.
An iconic piece
The sculpture depicts two stylised human figures springing out from the base, reaching upward to support a globe. It is crafted from 18-carat gold and stands 36.8 centimetres tall, weighing approximately 6.1 kilograms.
“The idea was to create something symbolising exertion, dynamism and the jubilation of an athlete in the moment of victory, with all the joy that contains”, explained Gazzaniga in an interview with FIFA a few years before he passed away in 2016. “The figures that emerge from the rough base material evoke a sense of jubilation in victory. The malachite rings in the base fitted the sculpture well because it's green, like a football field, and it is also a precious stone”.
The new trophy, now known simply as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was first presented at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. The hosts became the first nation to lift it.
Unlike its predecessor, no nation will ever get to keep the original. No matter how many times a nation wins the title, the solid gold masterpiece will always remain the property of FIFA.
Naturally, the World Cup winners are presented with the trophy on the field after the final and get to celebrate their victory in style. But after the celebration, they are presented with the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy for that edition of the tournament, which their national association can keep permanently. The original FIFA World Cup Trophy then returns to Zurich.
A family matter
Since opening in 2016, the FIFA Museum in Zurich has served as the permanent home of Gazzaniga’s masterpiece. As undoubtedly one of the highlights of the exhibition, the trophy is a pilgrimage site where every football fan stops to take a closer look and of course a photo.
Among the visitors were Giorgio, Gabriella, and Tomaso, Silvio Gazzaniga’s son, daughter, and grandson, who made an emotional journey to the museum to reconnect with their family’s legacy.
“It is like a little sister to me!” Giorgio remarked as he approached his father’s greatest work.
His grandson, Tomaso Bonazzi, highlighted the artistic revolution his grandfather sparked: “There is a ‘pre’ and ‘post’ Gazzaniga era. Previously, trophies were rigid and square. My grandfather introduced a new approach to modelling; the trophy is crafted as a true sculpture, creating fluid, warm movements within the material.”
“He was at his happiest when he was at work. It was a job that truly filled his heart,” recalled Gabriella.
Their words echo the passion that defined Gazzaniga’s life. In shaping the trophy’s sweeping lines and rising figures, he gifted the world a universal symbol of ambition, one that continues to stir the emotions of every player dreaming of lifting it – and of every fan admiring it at the FIFA Museum.
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