Qatar is hosting the 22nd FIFA World Cup, a tournament featuring one of the most prestigious trophies in the world. What is it made of? Is it 100% pure gold? If you are a true football fan, there are a few things you'll want to know.

Is the FIFA World Cup Trophy Made of Pure Gold?

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In fact, we’re so passionate about both that we wanted to see if there’s a link between the two. Turns out, there is!

As you know, the FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious sports trophies in the world. But have you ever wondered what it is made of and how much gold it actually contains? We promise you’ll be surprised.

interesting connection between gold and your favorite football player

A short history of the FIFA World Cup trophy

For starters, let’s look at some key facts about the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup trophy, a.k.a. the World Cup.🏆

As you know, it is the iconic sporting trophy, rewarded for being the absolute best in football, it is awarded once every four years to the best national team in the world. Produced as a successor to the 

, the World Cup is the creation of the Italian sculptor, 

, and the Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni Company, also known as 

A man holding the FIFA World Cup

So, in 1974, the Jules Rimet Cup was replaced by the FIFA World Cup, which remains the world’s most prestigious football trophy.

Here’s how the sculptor himself described it: 

"The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory."

But is the FIFA World Cup trophy solid gold?

Even so, it still contains a significant amount of the precious metal and is, therefore, extremely valuable. It is estimated that the trophy is now worth around 

The current World Cup trophy weighs around 

the measurements and gold content of the FIFA World Cup

Indeed, if the World Cup trophy were solid gold, 

, making it nearly impossible to lift up in the air (unless you are a weightlifter 🏋️♂️).

This year's tournament could be the last chance for two of the world’s best players — Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — to lift the World Cup trophy, as they plan to retire from international football before the next contest. 

How much gold would you need to buy your favorite football players in 2022?

a football player in red socks kicking a ball during the 22nd FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Based on their market value, we did the math during half-time, and here’s what we’ve got:

🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo ($21 million): 

Obviously, these are rough estimates, but they’re still quite impressive, aren't they?

Now, let’s say that the average age of these football players is around 30 years. 

How much gold would we have needed to buy them in 1992 for the same price?

 you would need much less gold to buy your favorite football players than 30 years ago. 

So, do you think your favorite national team will end up lifting the FIFA World Cup 2022? 

Even though it's still hard to tell who's going to win, one thing is for sure: it's going to be an exciting tournament!

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