Devendra KumarIn the world of football, a trophy is not just an award but is a symbol of the strength of the club, the hard work of the players and their success. The importance of big tournaments like the Champions League and the Premier League is always a matter of discussion.
The Champions League, which is played between the best clubs in Europe, is considered the greatest honor, as clubs have to compete fiercely against each other. At the same time, the Premier League tests the consistency and tactical skills of a team during a long season of 38 matches, which also makes it very prestigious.
In this article, we will learn about top 10 biggest trophies in the world, celebrating the artistry, legacy, and allure that make them true icons of the beautiful game.
Top 10 Biggest Trophies in the World
10. DFB-Pokal Trophy ($108,000)
DFB-Pokal trophy, designed in 1965 by Cologne artist Wilhelm Nagel, is a unique symbol of German football. The trophy is made of sterling silver and gold plated. It stands 52 centimetres high, weighs 6.25 kilograms, and has a bowl volume of eight litres. It is set with 42 precious stones, including tourmaline, rock crystal and nephrite. What makes the trophy even more special is the DFB emblem made of green nephrite set in the centre of the trophy. The name of each winning team and the year of victory are engraved on the base plate, which was raised 5 centimetres in 1991 to make more room for future winners.
The DFB-Pokal is not only the second most important title in German football, but the tournament itself is a historical legacy. It began in 1935 as the Tschammer-Pokal, and was renamed after World War II. Each year, the tournament is contested by 64 teams, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, as well as the top teams from lower divisions. The finals, held at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, are famous for their thrilling events and unexpected results. The trophy is special not just for its material value of €100,000, but also for its invaluable identity in football culture.
9. Premier League Trophy ($10,000)
Premier League Trophy is not just an honour for the champions of the English Football League, but its design and history make it extremely special. The trophy is 76 centimetres high and weighs 7.5 kilograms, made from solid silver. Its golden crown is a symbol of its prestige. The two blue ribbons on the trophy represent the colours of the Premier League, and the lion figure in the centre symbolises courage and strength, which is part of the English tradition.
The trophy was first introduced in 1993 with the formation of the Premier League, which marked a major change in the structure of English football. Division One was previously the top tier of English football, which was replaced by the Premier League. In the inaugural season, Manchester United won the title, marking the start of a new era for the club under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Premier League is one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues in the world, with traditional giants and new clubs making every season exciting. The 2015-16 season is a great example of this, when Leicester City won the title despite unthinkable odds of 5000-1. This shows the unpredictable nature and fighting spirit of the league. The emergence of new powers such as Manchester City has made the league even more competitive, such as winning the title with a record 100 points in 2017-18.
This trophy not only symbolises victory but also represents the fusion of tradition and modernity of English football, which is an inspiration for every football fan.
8. UEFA Champions League Trophy ($15,000)
UEFA Champions League trophy is not just an award; it is a symbol of excellence and pride of European football. Standing 73.5 cm tall and weighing 7.5 kg, the trophy is made of sterling silver, giving it an imposing and impressive look. The design was initiated in 1966, when Real Madrid were allowed to keep the original trophy after their sixth triumph. Swiss jeweller Jürg Stadelmann then crafted the new trophy in 340 hours. In 1967, the recreated trophy was first lifted by Celtic.
The trophy’s distinctive design features large handles and an impressive engraving that reads “Coupe des Clubs Champions Européens“. Since 1968/69, a rule has been in place that if a club wins it five times or three consecutive years, it can keep it permanently. Clubs such as Real Madrid, Milan, and Liverpool have achieved this distinction. Today, the winning team is given a full-size replica of the trophy, while the original remains with UEFA.
This trophy is not only a historical heritage but also the pinnacle of success and prestige for players and clubs. For football lovers, it is not just a trophy but a symbol of dreams and struggles.
7. Bundesliga Meisterschale ($57,102)
Bundesliga Meisterschale, also known as the “salad bowl” (Salatschüssel), is awarded to the German football champion at the end of each season. The trophy is made of sterling silver and is studded with five large and eleven small tourmaline gems totalling 175 carats. In 1981 a silver ring and five tourmaline cabochons totalling 71.98 carats were added, making it even more opulent. The trophy weighs 11 kilograms and is 59 centimetres in diameter. To protect it, it is insured for up to €50,000, but its actual value is believed to be much higher than that.
Introduced in 1949, the shield replaced the Victoria Trophy, which disappeared during World War II. Designed by Professor Elisabeth Tresko and her students, the trophy bears the names of all German champions since 1903. It was expanded in 1981 and 2009 to make room for the names of new winners. It is now spacious enough to accommodate the names of all champions until 2026.
This trophy not only represents football excellence but also preserves Germany’s sporting tradition and history. When several clubs compete for the title in the final round, the original trophy is given to the league leader, while the winning club is temporarily given a replica. This process ensures that this prestigious trophy remains in due respect.
6. Serie A Trophy ($66,000)
Coppa Campioni d’Italia is the prestigious trophy awarded to the Serie A champions. Designed by Italian artist Ettore Calvelli in 1960, the trophy recently had a new version, increasing its height to 58 centimetres and weight to 8 kilograms. The trophy’s base is made of sodalite blue stone, and at its centre is a golden ring, on which the players’ symbolic figures are engraved. The names of all winners from the 1960-61 season to the present are engraved on the trophy’s golden base.
The trophy, which is worth around 60,000 euros, is the property of the Serie A league. The winning club keeps it only temporarily and is given a smaller version to display in their trophy room upon return.
Scudetto, which means “little shield,” is a symbolic patch designed in the colors of the Italian flag. It is placed on the winning team’s jersey the following season, symbolizing their status as champions. The tradition began in 1924, when Genoa became the first team to wear the Scudetto.
The origins of the Scudetto are linked to the Italian poet and playwright Gabriele D’Annunzio. In 1920, when the city of Fiume was incorporated into Italy, D’Annunzio proposed that the local football team wear the tricolour shield on their jerseys. In 1924, this tradition was adopted by the Italian Football Federation.
While the Coppa Campioni d’Italia is a magnificent trophy, the Scudetto has become the true identity of the Serie A winner in Italy. It is a symbol of victory that carries forward the legacy and pride of the champion.
5. African Cup of Nations Trophy ($150,000)
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy is awarded to the winning team of the prestigious tournament held every year. Since its inception in 1957, the trophy has been designed in three different forms. The first trophy was called the “Abdel Aziz Abdullah Salem Cup“, which was used from 1957 to 1978. It was a silver trophy and resembled the FA Cup in shape. Ghana won it three times (1963, 1965, 1978) and retained it permanently. The “African Unity Cup” was then used from 1980 to 2000, which was a cylindrical trophy with the Olympic rings and a map of the continent. Cameroon won it three times (1984, 1988, 2000) and retained it permanently.
In 2001 the “Africa Cup of Nations Trophy” was introduced, a golden trophy designed and manufactured in Italy. Cameroon became the first team to win it in 2002. After winning this trophy, Egypt was the first team to keep a full-size reproduction trophy after winning it three times. The first and second winning teams are given a smaller reproduction trophy, which is smaller in size than the original trophy. This trophy operates under special rules, in which the winning team must return it to CAF two months before the next tournament. The team that wins three times is given the original trophy.
4. Ballon d’Or (€500,000 / $805,439)
Ballon d’Or trophy is awarded annually by France Football to the world’s best footballer. The award has been given since 1956, and in 1983 its current version was introduced, which is a golden spherical ball placed on a pyrite base (sometimes called ‘fool’s gold’). The spherical ball is plated with 18 carat gold, and weighs five kilograms. The trophy is approximately 31 centimetres high and 23 centimetres in diameter, and weighs a little over seven kilograms in total.
The most special thing about the Ballon d’Or trophy is that its base is different every year as it is made from a natural pyrite. The pyrite is cut and shaped to fit into the base of a round ball, and this is why the base of every year is different from each other. The work of making this trophy is done by Malerio Dietz Maler, one of the oldest jewelers in the world. The making of this trophy takes about 100 hours and the process starts six months before the award ceremony.
First, two brass discs are shaped to form a spherical ball. Then, the seam lines are hand-carved in the ball with the help of a real football. After this, the logo of the award is engraved and dipped in gold, and finally it is attached to the pyrite base. The Ballon d’Or trophy is considered to be an extremely prestigious award in the world of football.
3. FA Cup Trophy ($1.18 Million)
Emirates FA Cup trophy is a well-known symbol of victory and prestige in the world of football. The current trophy, which was handcrafted by Thomas Lyte in 2014, is the third redesigned version of the iconic silver cup since 1911. It measures 61.5 cm high and 38 cm wide, and weighs 6.3 kg. The trophy is made of pure silver and the inside is plated with 24 carat gold, making it even more attractive. The exterior design of the trophy uses beautiful designs of grapes and vines and a hand-chasing process of fluting, making it even more special.
The FA Cup is the oldest cup competition in the world, and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022. After two previous editions, the current design was introduced in 1911. The first edition was stolen in 1895, and the new trophy design incorporates the base band of the original 1911 trophy, keeping the memories of past cup finals alive in the trophy. Thomas Lyte designed the trophy to make it stronger and more durable, so that it can last longer. In addition, Thomas Lyte also designed the Women’s FA Cup trophy and the winners and runners-up medals for both competitions. The trophy is a wonderful symbol of the history and tradition of English football, which will continue to inspire generations to come.
2. UEFA Europa League Trophy ($4.5 Million)
UEFA Europa League trophy is the heaviest trophy in European club competitions, weighing 15 kilograms. It is 65 cm high, 33 cm wide and 23 cm deep. The trophy does not have handles, which makes it different from other European Cup trophies. The trophy is in the form of a silver cup placed on a yellow marble platform. It was designed and made by the Bertoni Workshop of Milan. Above the trophy’s base, some players appear to be grappling with each other, but in reality they hold the UEFA emblem while supporting the trophy’s octagonal cup.
The UEFA Europa League trophy originated in 1972 when it was awarded to Tottenham Hotspur as the UEFA Cup, who defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers, also of England. The new competition was introduced to replace the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and standardised its rules, refereeing and discipline.
The UEFA Cup was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League in the 2009/10 season, and Atlético de Madrid became the first team to win the new competition. The Europa League trophy symbolises a prestigious and important achievement in European club football, as the team that wins it earns a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage the following season.
Also Read- Best Football Academies in the World
1. FIFA World Cup Trophy ($20 Million)
FIFA World Cup trophy is a magnificent and historic sporting award, initially known as the “Jules Remy Trophy“. Created for the first World Cup in 1930, the trophy stood 35 cm high and weighed 3.8 kg. The trophy was made of gold-plated sterling silver and depicted Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. After Brazil won the trophy permanently in 1970, FIFA began working on a new design.
The current trophy, designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga in 1974, is 36.5 cm high and weighs 6.2 kg, made of 18-carat gold. The base of the trophy is studded with semi-precious malachite stone in two layers, and the names of all the winning countries since 1974 are engraved on the base.
Gazzaniga described it as a dynamic sculpture where “the lines grow outward from the base, moving in spirals, spreading out to accept the whole world“. An interesting fact about this trophy is that it is going to be replaced soon, as it only has space left to engrave the names of five more winners, which could be completed by 2038.
The trophy has had quite an interesting journey, including being hidden in a shoe box during World War II and stolen from England in 1966, where it was discovered by a dog, Pickles. It was stolen again in Brazil in 1983 and is believed to have been melted down. The current trophy is kept safely with FIFA, and the winning team is awarded a gold-plated replica.
Devendra Kumar
