Is FIFA's World Cup Trophy really solid gold?
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Professor Martyn Poliakoff from the University of Nottingham argued that the iconic prize could not realistically be solid gold all the way through.
His reasoning is simple: if it were, it would be far too heavy for players to lift and celebrate with after winning football's biggest prize.
Key takeaways
- A professor says a truly solid gold World Cup trophy would weigh 70-80kg.
- The trophy is likely hollow in parts, including the globe at the top.
- Winners lift the original trophy briefly, then receive a replica.
World Cup trophy may not be solid gold
Speaking to BBC Sport in 2010, Poliakoff explained that gold is one of the densest metals on Earth.According to my calculations, if it was solid all the way through, it would have somewhere between 70 and 80kg of gold in it.
I don't think that it would be light enough for people to wave above their heads, and also it would be a big waste of gold.
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Read This Next →Why the trophy is likely hollow
Poliakoff believes FIFA's description of the trophy as "solid gold" may simply mean that the visible structure is made from gold rather than containing a different material inside.In practical terms, he suspects parts of the trophy are hollow.
The globe at the top is the most likely candidate. If that section were completely solid, the overall weight would increase dramatically.
His theory aligns with common engineering principles. Creating a hollow structure allows designers to maintain the trophy's appearance whilst keeping its weight manageable.
The famous trophy's history
The current FIFA World Cup trophy has been awarded since 1974, replacing the famous Jules Rimet Trophy that had been used in previous tournaments.Football fans in England will remember the Jules Rimet Trophy from the iconic images of captain Bobby Moore lifting it after England's historic 1966 World Cup victory at Wembley Stadium.
The modern trophy has since become one of the most recognisable sporting symbols in the world.
Winners don't keep the original trophy
Many fans are surprised to learn that World Cup champions do not permanently keep the original trophy.Whilst captains are allowed to lift the genuine prize during the post-match celebrations, FIFA retains possession of the original trophy afterwards.
Instead, the winning nation receives an official replica to display and preserve.
That means every World Cup-winning team gets its own version of the famous trophy, whilst the original remains under FIFA's protection.
A long-standing football mystery
Whether the World Cup trophy is truly solid gold or only partially hollow remains a subject of fascination among football fans.What is clear, however, is that a completely solid gold trophy would be significantly heavier than the one players have been lifting since 1974.
For now, the iconic prize remains one of football's most treasured symbols - even if its "solid gold" reputation may not be quite what many supporters imagined.
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