Letter II: The Golden Cup and the Dream Behind It
Dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd,
Every great adventure has a treasure. For football, that treasure is the World Cup Trophy.
But where did this golden prize come from? Who first imagined a tournament in which countries from every corner of the world would compete against one another? And who thought of awarding a special trophy to the champions?
The story begins with a dream. For the World Cup Trophy did not simply appear one day. It grew out of the vision of a remarkable man who believed that sport could bring the nations of the world together.
A Frenchman named Jules Rimet believed that countries which sometimes disagreed with one another could still meet peacefully on a football field. To make this dream real, he helped create the first World Cup in 1930.
A special trophy was made for the winners. It was first called the Victory Trophy, but later people renamed it the Jules Rimet Trophy in honour of the man whose dream had made the World Cup possible.
The trophy was designed by a French artist named Abel Lafleur. It showed the ancient goddess of victory holding a cup above her head. It was made of gold-plated silver, stood about 35 centimetres tall, and weighed a little under four kilograms. Soon it became the most treasured object in football.
Then came the Second World War.
Europe was in turmoil. Cities were being bombed, armies were marching across countries, and many people feared that the trophy might be stolen or destroyed.
An Italian football official named Ottorino Barassi decided that something had to be done. Instead of keeping the trophy in a bank or a government office, he hid it in an ordinary shoebox and placed it under his bed.
Imagine that! While battles raged across Europe, the world’s greatest football prize lay hidden beneath a bed in a simple room. Visitors came and went, completely unaware of the treasure sleeping quietly beneath their feet.
The trophy survived the war. But its adventures were only beginning.
In 1966, England was preparing to host the World Cup. The trophy was proudly displayed for visitors to see. One day, however, it vanished. Someone had stolen it.
Police officers searched frantically. Newspapers carried headlines. Football fans worried that the tournament might begin without its most precious prize.
Days passed. Then an unlikely hero appeared.
A black-and-white dog named Pickles was out walking with his owner in a London neighbourhood. Suddenly Pickles began sniffing at a package hidden beneath a hedge.
Inside the package was the missing trophy. The mystery had been solved by a dog.
Pickles became an international celebrity. He appeared in newspapers, received rewards, and even attended special events. For many children, Pickles became as famous as some of the football players.
The trophy continued its travels around the world for many years.
In 1970, Brazil won the World Cup for the third time. Under the rules at that time, any country winning three World Cups could keep the Jules Rimet Trophy forever.
The Brazilians were delighted. Football’s greatest treasure had found a permanent home.
Or so everyone thought.
In 1983, the trophy was stolen again from its display cabinet in Brazil.
This time it was never recovered.
Some people believe it was melted down by thieves. Others think it may still exist somewhere, hidden in a private collection. No one knows for certain.
Fortunately, football already had a new trophy.
In 1974, a striking new design had been introduced. This is the trophy that champions lift today. Designed by Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, it shows two human figures raising the Earth above their heads.
It is made of 18-carat gold, weighs more than six kilograms, and is one of the most valuable trophies in sport.
The first World Cup trophy was called the Jules Rimet Trophy, but the golden trophy lifted by champions today is a different trophy, officially known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
Yet the winning country does not keep it forever.
After the celebrations are over, the trophy is returned to FIFA and carefully protected. The champions receive a special replica instead.
And perhaps that is fitting.
For this golden trophy belongs, in a way, to the whole world.
It carries the dreams of generations of players, the cheers of millions of fans, the memory of great victories, and even the story of a little dog named Pickles who once rescued football’s greatest treasure.
With lots of love,
Dadu
scribo ad LX 