MESSI HAS WON THE WORLD CUP BUT HE CAN’T TAKE IT HOME. HERE’S WHY

ON SUNDAY, after arguably the greatest World Cup final ever, Lionel Messi finally got his chance to lift football’s greatest prize-more than 16 years after he played his maiden match of the game’s flagship tournament.

So, will Messi and Co. get to take the trophy back home to Argentina to show their delirious fans? No, is the simple answer. Here’s why.

Jules Rimet Trophy

The original World Cup trophy was called the Jules Rimet Trophy, in honor of the former FIFA president who was instrumental in the conceptualization of the global football tournament.

From 1930, when the first World Cup tournament was played, to 1970, the trophy, which was made of gold-plated sterling silver, and weighed 3.8 kg, was given to the champions.

Back then, FIFA had a rule that allowed a country that had won the World Cup three times to keep the trophy. So after Brazil won their third title in 1970, they took the Jules Rimet Trophy home.

In 1983, the trophy was stolen from the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro. It was never recovered, and is widely believed to have been melted down for the gold. Only the base of the trophy was found.

Incidentally, this was the second time the trophy was stolen. In 1966, ahead of the World Cup tournament being hosted by England, it had disappeared from a public exhibition-it had been, however, found only days later.

FIFA World Cup Trophy

Since 1974, the champions have been presented with the FIFA World Cup Trophy, which replaced the Jules Rimet Trophy that Brazil took home. Designed by artist Silvio Gazzaniga and weighing 6.175kg, the trophy contains 4,927g of gold.

However, the winners receive only a gold-plated bronze replica of the trophy, and are not allowed to take home the original. This is chiefly due to security concerns. The original is displayed at the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich, and is brought out only for the World Cup tournament. At the end of end of each tournament, the winning country’s name is inscribed on a plate that is attached to the base of the trophy.

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