Top 10 Most Prestigious Football Trophies in the World

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2. UEFA Champions League Trophy

4. The FA Cup

5. South American Football Cup (Copa América)

7. English Premier League Trophy

8. Bundesliga Championship Trophy

9. La Liga Trophy

10. African Nations Cup

The FIFA World Cup trophy, the ultimate prize in football, is a symbol of triumph awarded to the champion of the FIFA World Cup. Since its inception in 1930, two trophies have represented victory: the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970 and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present. Originally named Victory, the cup was later renamed to honor former FIFA President Jules Rimet. Crafted from sterling silver and lapis lazuli, the cup features the iconic figure of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Brazil secured their third championship in 1970, granting them the perpetual right to keep the original Jules Rimet Trophy, stolen in 1983 and never recovered. It was replaced by the FIFA World Cup Trophy, first used in the 1974 World Cup. Made of 18-carat gold with a malachite base, the cup depicts two figures holding the Earth. The current holder is France, the 2018 World Cup champion.

When football is mentioned, the FIFA World Cup, the largest international tournament organized by FIFA, immediately comes to mind. The FIFA World Cup trophy is widely regarded as the most coveted trophy worldwide, representing the pinnacle of football glory. A FIFA World Cup victory holds immense prestige in the football world. It serves as a unifying force, spreading a wave of joy and triumphant spirit across an entire nation. The current version of this prestigious trophy is the work of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga. The new design, slightly larger and heavier, stands at approximately 14.5 inches tall and weighs 13.5 pounds, made of 18-carat gold.

FIFA World Cup Trophy

2. UEFA Champions League Trophy

The UEFA European Championship, commonly known as Euro, is the international football tournament for the national teams of Europe. It aims to determine the continental champion of Europe and is held every four years since 1960, except for 2020, which was postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

Twenty-four European teams qualify for Euro, but only one can lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy, an 8 kg silver snake-shaped cup standing at 60 cm. The winning team also receives a gold medal to commemorate their victory, and each participating team in the final receives a commemorative plaque. After 15 editions, Germany and Spain are both three-time champions, while France and Italy have won it twice. The Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and Portugal each have one title. Spain is the only team to win consecutively in 2008 and 2012. Euro is the second most-watched football tournament globally, following the FIFA World Cup. The Euro 2012 final was watched by around 300 million viewers worldwide. The current champion is the Italian national team, defeating England in a penalty shootout at Euro 2020.

The Euro 2020 final saw the Italian national team emerge as champions, overcoming England in a thrilling penalty shootout. The tournament, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Henri Delaunay Trophy, weighing 8 kg and standing at 60 cm, is the coveted prize for the victors. Spain holds the distinction of being the only team to clinch back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2012. With 15 editions so far, Germany and Spain lead the pack with three championships each, followed by France and Italy with two apiece. Euro is the second most-watched football event globally, drawing in approximately 300 million viewers for the Euro 2012 final.

The mesmerizing European Football Championship – Euro

4. The FA Cup

The FA Cup is an annual knockout football competition for men in England. First organized in the 1871–1872 season, it is the oldest football competition in the world. It is organized and named after The Football Association (FA) in England. Since 2015, the tournament is named The Emirates FA Cup due to sponsorship by Emirates airlines.

This football competition is open to any eligible football club from level 10 of the English football league system. A record 763 clubs competed in the 2011–2012 season. The original FA Cup was stolen in 1895 while held by Aston Villa and was never seen again. A replica was used to replace the original, but a new design replaced it in 1911. The design has remained the same to this day. However, a replica was produced in 1992 to provide to teams in case anything happened to the original. The original 1911 cup was valued at £1 million on Antiques Roadshow in 2016. The current cup is made of 925 sterling silver, handcrafted for over 250 hours, and weighs 6.3 kg.

The championship-winning team receives an FA Cup, qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, and a spot to compete in the FA Community Shield. As of 2020, Arsenal holds the record for the most FA Cup wins with 14 titles. The current defending champion is Liverpool, after a 6-5 victory on penalties (0-0 after 120 minutes) against Chelsea in the 2022 FA Cup final on May 14, 2022.

The glorious FA Cup Trophy

The prestigious FA Cup Trophy

5. South American Football Cup (Copa América)

Copa America, also known as the South American Football Cup in Vietnamese, is the championship for national teams in South America organized by the South American Football Association. This is a continental-level tournament as in football, South America and North America are considered two separate continents. The South American Football Cup is the oldest international tournament in the world, first organized in 1916. In addition to the 10 members of Conmebol, since 1993, each edition invites 2 national teams from other football associations (usually Concacaf). As South America has only 10 national teams, this tournament does not have qualifying rounds. Argentina and Uruguay are the two teams that have won the most championships (15 each). Since Conmebol is one of the six continental members of FIFA, Copa America organized by Conmebol is equivalent to other continental tournaments such as Euro (UEFA), CAN (CAF), Asian Cup (AFC), Gold Cup (Concacaf), and Nations Cup (OFC).

Eight out of the 10 national teams of Conmebol have won the championship at least once in the 46 editions held since 1916, with only Ecuador and Venezuela yet to win. Argentina has hosted the tournament the most times (9 editions). The United States is the only non-South American country to host the event in 2016. In three editions (1975, 1979, and 1983), the tournament was hosted in multiple South American countries.

Copa America is the oldest football competition in the dark continent, the South American region. It involves teams associated with Conmebol and two other invited guest nations. The cup has a silver design, standing 77cm tall and weighing 9kg. It has a 3-tier wooden base, with engraved plates on it displaying the names of the winning teams.

The esteemed South American Football Cup (Copa America)

The iconic South American Football Cup (Copa America)

The Serie A Football Championship Trophy

7. English Premier League Trophy

The English Premier League, commonly known as the EPL or English Premier League, is the top-tier football competition in the English football league system. Consisting of 20 clubs, the league employs a promotion and relegation system with the English Football League (EFL). The season runs from August to May, with each team playing 38 matches. Most matches take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Established on February 20, 1992, the Premier League is currently the most-watched football league globally, broadcasting to 212 territories, reaching 643 million households, and approximately 4.7 billion television viewers.

In the 2014-2015 season, an average Premier League match attracted around 36,000 spectators, ranking second only to the Bundesliga with 43,500 spectators among professional football leagues. Most stadiums were filled with fans. The Premier League ranks first in the UEFA coefficient for club performance in European competitions over 5 seasons, up to 2022.

Despite its fame, the Premier League is the tenth most valuable championship in football, with a grand prize of up to $10,000. The 20 teams compete in the league to become the proud owners of this prestigious trophy. Manchester United is the most successful team in the league, having won the title 20 times. Manchester City FC claimed the 2021 edition. The trophy is crafted from silver, silver-gilt, and malachite, a semi-precious gem found in Africa, making it the most esteemed football competition in England. The cup is also something special. Its design is based on the three lions associated with English football. The body is made of solid sterling silver, topped with a gold-gilt crown. Its base is crafted from malachite, with a silver band engraved with the names of the victorious clubs.

The English Premier League Trophy

8. Bundesliga Championship Trophy

The Bundesliga, Germany's premier professional football league, is a top-tier competition that comprises 18 teams and operates on a promotion and relegation system. The season runs from August to May, with most matches taking place on Saturdays and Sundays, and some during weekdays. All Bundesliga clubs participate in the DFB-Pokal, and the league champion earns the right to compete in the DFL-Supercup.

Since its establishment, 56 clubs have competed in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich holds the record for the most titles, winning it 31 times. However, other notable champions include Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and VfB Stuttgart. The Bundesliga ranks third in Europe, based on UEFA's competition coefficient for the 2019-2020 season, showcasing its excellence in European competitions. It is the world's top football league in terms of average attendance, with 45,116 spectators per match during the 2011-2012 season, making it the second-highest average attendance for any sports league globally, after the NFL.

Bundesliga is broadcasted in over 200 countries, making it a widely watched football league worldwide.

Bundesliga Championship Trophy

9. La Liga Trophy

The top professional football league in Spain, known as La Liga or Primera División, is officially named La Liga Santander due to sponsorship by Santander. It is the highest-level professional football league for men in the Spanish football league system. Operated by Liga de Fútbol Profesional, the league consists of 20 teams. The three lowest-ranked teams at the end of the season are relegated to Segunda División, replaced by the top two teams and the playoff winner from that league.

La Liga is a globally popular professional sports league, with an average attendance of 26,933 for the 2018-2019 season. It ranks sixth in average attendance among professional sports leagues worldwide and third among professional football leagues globally, trailing only the Premier League and Bundesliga.

La Liga is the premier football championship in Spain, featuring the top 20 domestic teams. Over 38 seasons from August to May, eligible teams compete for the coveted La Liga trophy, characterized by its modern design with a stylized side panel and a green strip around the bottom. The new La Liga logo is also prominently displayed on the front of the trophy.

La Liga Championship Trophy

African Nations Cup

10. African Nations Cup

The African Nations Cup is a football competition among African nations organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament debuted in 1957 with just three teams and became an official biennial event from 1968. Since 2013, the tournament switched to odd-numbered years to avoid overlapping with the FIFA World Cup. The 2021 edition was postponed to January 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Held every two years, the African Nations Cup features the participation of the top 25 football clubs in Africa. Inaugurated in 1957, teams compete throughout the tournament to prove their dominance on the continent. Egypt holds the most prestigious record with seven undefeated victories. The current trophy is a gold-plated cup crafted in Italy, featuring a globe surrounded by footballs. The African Nations Cup trophy has undergone three versions since 1980, with the current design implemented in 2001, and Cameroon was the first team to claim this title.

The team with the most championships is Egypt, securing the title seven times in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

African Nations Cup

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the FIFA World Cup trophy in football?

The FIFA World Cup trophy is the ultimate prize in football, symbolizing triumph for the champion of the FIFA World Cup. It represents decades of history, national pride, and the pinnacle of athletic achievement since its inception in 1930.

How did Brazil come to permanently hold the Jules Rimet Trophy?

Brazil secured their permanent right to the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning their third championship in 1970. This victory allowed them to keep the trophy, which was later stolen in 1983 and never recovered.

What distinguishes the UEFA European Championship trophy from others?

The UEFA European Championship trophy, known as the Henri Delaunay Trophy, is unique due to its snake-shaped design and the fact that it has been awarded since 1960, making it a symbol of European football excellence.

When was the FA Cup first organized and what is its significance?

The FA Cup was first organized in the 1871-1872 season, making it the oldest football competition in the world. It holds significant prestige in English football, representing an annual knockout competition open to numerous clubs.

What is the history behind the Copa America trophy?

The Copa America trophy, awarded since 1916, is the oldest international tournament trophy. Its design features silver and stands 77cm tall, representing the rich football heritage of South America.

How does the English Premier League Trophy reflect its prestigious competition?

The English Premier League Trophy is crafted from silver and malachite, symbolizing the esteemed competition in England. Its design features elements linked to English football history, making it a coveted prize for teams.