Milan Sculptor Created Soccer's Most Famous Trophy

A simple sketch in a Milan studio became the most recognizable trophy in sports history.

When Brazil won its third World Cup in 1970 and took the original trophy home permanently, FIFA faced a challenge. They needed a new design that would capture the spirit of soccer's greatest tournament.

Silvio Gazzaniga, a 50-year-old Milan sculptor, had an idea. Working from his studio in Milan's Brera neighborhood, he sketched two figures spiraling upward toward a globe representing Earth. His son Giorgio, then a teenager, watched his father fill pages with drawings before settling on the perfect design.

Gazzaniga beat more than 50 other entries from 25 countries. His secret? He didn't just submit sketches. He created a full-size plaster prototype so FIFA judges could hold the future in their hands.

"There is the world, which stands above all else, there is the athlete's exertion," Giorgio explains today. The metal figures show roughness and struggle, capturing the fight for victory.

The design tells a complete story in a single form. Arms rise like wings, representing not just the athlete's triumph but also the crowd's jubilation when their team wins.

The Ripple Effect

Gazzaniga's work extends far beyond one famous trophy. He designed the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup during his career. Each piece brought the same thoughtful approach to capturing sports' emotional highs.

The World Cup trophy stands 36 centimeters tall and shines in 18-carat gold. It rests on green malachite rings symbolizing soccer fields around the world. Winners receive a gold-plated replica because the original stays at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland between tournaments.

When West Germany lifted Gazzaniga's trophy for the first time in 1974, the sculptor watched from home with his family. "That was the moment an object became an icon," Giorgio recalls.

Milan recognized Gazzaniga's contribution in 2003 with the Ambrogino d'Oro, one of the city's highest honors. In 2011, he received an international award for lifetime achievement in medal and trophy design.

Gazzaniga died in 2016 at age 95, but his legacy lives on. Earlier this year, Milan officials unveiled a commemorative plaque outside his former studio at Via Alessandro Volta 7. His family preserved his office in Pioltello, complete with original drawings, the FIFA prototype, and wax casts.

Every four years, when a new champion hoists that golden trophy overhead, millions watching worldwide see Gazzaniga's vision of struggle, joy, and victory spiraling toward the sky.