As part of our series covering the world’s most famous sporting trophies, let’s kick things off with football (pun intended).
As one of the estimated 3.5 billion footie fans worldwide, this is the obvious place to start for me. The sport is a fine example of British sporting heritage going global and breaking barriers.
Famous Football Trophies
As one of the estimated 3.5 billion footie fans worldwide, this is the obvious place to start for me. The sport is a fine example of British sporting heritage going global and breaking barriers
FIFA World Cup Trophy
Perhaps the most famous trophy in the world, the FIFA World Cup Trophy is awarded every four years to the world’s best national team. Introduced in 1974, the current trophy design of two human figures lifting the globe, replaced the Jules Rimet Trophy, which Brazil kept after their third win in 1970.
The instantly recognisable sporting is crafted from 18-carat gold and weighing over 6kg, with a green base made from malachite, the FIFA World Cup trophy is valued at around £20 million. However, winning nations only receive a gold-plated replica while the original remains with FIFA.
For many, even making a World Cup Squad is deemed the pinnacle of success as a footballer to be considered the best player of your nation. When you consider only 8 teams have ever won the tournament – Brazil (5) , Germany, Italy (4), Argentina (3), France, Uruguay (2), England and Spain (1) – you appreciate that lifting the coveted sports trophy is a genuine peak achievement and honour to be crowned best team in the world.
The inaugural tournament winner was Uruguay, but Brazil’s Hilderaldo Bellini started the trend of lifting it overhead in 1958 with passion and national pride that so few get the privilege to feel. It really is the most famous sporting trophy in the world.
Ballon d’Or
Presented annually by French magazine France Football since 1956, the Ballon d’Or honours the best footballer in the world (although initially it was only for European Players and become global in 2007). Voted for by variations over the years from journalists, national coaches, and captains, the award has sparked many a passionate debate on worthiness.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are synonymous with the trophy, both having claimed it multiple times as the debate of Greatest of all Time rattled on. For reference, Messi holds the record with 8 victories to Ronaldo’s 5. Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten have 3. The only Brit to have won it twice is Kevin Keegan.
While an individual prize of sporting excellence, the recognition carries huge influence and prestige in shaping careers, endorsements and legacy and inflates the players asking price. Playing in the big leagues helps, as does winning the World Cup.
Did you know? The Ballon d’Or once merged with FIFA’s “World Player of the Year” from 2010–2015.
UEFA Champions League Trophy
Known affectionately as “Big Ears” due to its distinctive handles, the Champions League trophy represents supremacy in European club football making it one of the famous sport trophies. Clubs that won it five times or three in a row could keep the original, a rule that changed in 2009. The real one now stays at UEFA HQ, and each winning team now receives a replica.
Those times also get the privilege of a multiple-winner badge, and that applies to Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
It started as the European Cup where only the champions of their respective national league (and the defending champions of the competition) were allowed to participate and play for the right to be crowned champion of Europe. That format changed in 1997 with runners up, and then diluted even more in 1999 with 3rd and forth place teams. 24/25 was a brand new table format which took some getting used to.
But ask PSG how they feel about the prestige of winning it, or Arsenal on how they feel on never lifting it (Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that)
The FA Cup
First played in 1871, the Football Association Challenge Cup is the oldest national football competition. The trophy’s prestige lies in its heritage and unpredictable nature, often producing giant-killings and fairy-tale runs. The competition is open to all eligible clubs down to level 9 of the English football league system, with occasionally level 10 clubs standing in.
These non-league teams battle through qualifying, with 32 making the first round proper, before the big boys join in round 3. At grassroots level, a good cup run and a lucrative ticket sales can a huge financial windfall to stay in the black to avoid folding.
For players, like those at National League Lincoln in 2016–17 FA Cup who beat Brighton and top-flight Burnley before being humbled by ultimate Cup champions Arsenal 5–0, gave them to taste football at stadium like the Emirates. Two teams at Level 8 of the football pyramid have made the lucrative 3rd round; Chasetown (who played Cardiff in 07/08) and Marine (who played Spurs in 20/21).
The appeal of the English FA Cup is in theory, anyone can win it, making it a (ever so slightly) realistic dream for your average footballer. Okay so only 45 clubs have ever won the FA Cup in the 154 year history, but let’s keep that fire of desire burning. Tottenham Hotspur were non-league when they won in 1901/02 and lifted the ‘little tin idol’.
That’s the nickname of the original 18 inches high silver trophy made by Sheffield Silversmiths Martin, Hall & Co at a cost of £20. Although that trophy was stolen in 1895 and rumoured to have been melted down and turned into silver coins. Spurs had the exact replica replacement version, which is currently in the National Football Museum and owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Manchester City.
The cup changed to what we know now in 1911, the Football Association Cup version was made by Fattorini & Sons, the Bradford based jewellers and trophy makers who also made the Rugby League Challenge Cup. It’s in three parts; the cup itself, plus a lid and a base, and was larger at 61.5 cm (24.2 inches) high. Which resulted it in been dropping multiple times over the years, so an exact replica was made in 1992 by FA Cup medal manufacturers Toye, Kenning and Spencer. Then again in 2014 by Silversmiths Thomas Lyte, the trophy is made in sterling 925 silver and weighting 6.3 kilograms.
But regardless of what version is held aloft, the prestige is the name of the winning team engraved on the silver base for the presentation ceremony, and the medals handled out on the hallowed Wembley Stadium turf after the cup final.
Other Notable Famous Trophies in Football
Based on where you are in the world, you may be upset that this list in incomplete of best trophies in sports, but I’m trying to keep this short and sweet. Also, the women’s game has equivalent silverware that carry the same glory and prestige, if not the same status.
There are other prestigious football trophies of course. The Premier League Trophy for one, but winning any of the other 4 big European leagues title like the Bundesliga Meisterschale, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 is also seen as a crowning achievement and spawning fierce rivalry between clubs like Liverpool & Manchester United, and Real Madrid & Barcelona.
FIFA will try and say the upcoming World Club Tournament which sees the best teams from across the globe compete to be crowned “best football team in the world”. But I’m not convinced it has the same gravitas although the financial rewards seem to be spurring on the big clubs.
The European Championship (Henri Delaunay Trophy) of course is highly prestigious, and the South American equivalent in the Copa Libertadores, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the AFC Asian Cup all have huge continental reverence.
There’s the European Nations League, UEFA Super Cup, Europa League, Europa Conference League, CONCACAF Nations League, Copa Sudamericana, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CAF Champions League, Arab Gulf Cup, etc.
Then country level trophies like Copa del Rey, UAE President’s Cup, Kings Cup, Saudi Pro League Championship, MLS Cup, King Abdullah II International Cup, J-League and Emperor’s Cup.
And finally any striker will dream of being awarded the Golden Boot in any high-level competition, while the Puskas Award celebrates any fantastically beautiful goal in football. Both equally prestigious awards.
So there we have it, my list of famous football trophies. What did you dream of winning as a child? Let me know in the comments!
