The objective of every football team is to win games which translates to winning of trophies. Football has grown to become the most popular sporting competition in the world. Thousands of football supporters troops out to witness with ecstasy their beloved teams bring home prestigious trophies.
Conventionally, these trophies are accompanied by prize money for the winners. Although there are so many factors that determine the prize money for the winners, most amounts are often determined by the size of the competition, materials and prestige associated with each trophy.
No two football trophy has the same value and worth. Interestingly, the price of winning a competition might be higher than the worth of the trophy itself. Having said that, read on as we explore the list of the top 10 most expensive and valuable football trophies in the world.
10. English Premier League Trophy – $10,000
The English Premier League trophy is one of the most prestigious and valuable trophies in the world of football. The trophy is made of silver, gilded silver, and malachite, a semi-precious gemstone found in Africa. The competition is contested by 20 clubs and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League (EFL).
9. UEFA Champions League Trophy – $15,000
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most valuable trophies in the world of football. It is an annual club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Association and contested by top-division European clubs.
The UEFA Champions League trophy has had a name, designs and version modifications over the years. The current version is the fifth of the updated design.
Designed by Jürg Stadelmann, the UEFA Champions League trophy weighs 7.5 kilograms and stands at a height of 73.5 centimetres. The trophy has been nicknamed ‘Ol’ Big Ears’ due to its large handles resembling human ears.
8. Bundesliga Meisterschale – $57,102
The Bundesliga Meisterschale is a German association football trophy awarded to the German champions since 1949 and the Bundesliga champions from 1963–64. The trophy was first awarded to FC Köln in 1964 at the end of the inaugural first division league competition. Thereafter, it was replaced by the Viktoria statue that got lost in the turmoil of World War II.
Created and designed by a renowned art professor, Elisabeth Treskow in Kölner Werkschulen, the Bundesliga trophy has the names of all German league winners dating back to 1903 engraved on it. The ring was added to the trophy to allow the engraving of additional team names in 1981. Additionally, the trophy is insured for a sum of €50,000 (about $57,102).
7. Serie A Trophy – $66,000
Ranking number seven on our list of most expensive trophies is the Seria A trophy which is worth $66,000. Originally known as the Trophy of the Champions of Italy, the trophy was designed by Ettore Calvelli in 1960. The Scudetto as it is commonly called has a blue sodalite base and a gold ring in the middle depicting athletes.
6. Africa Cup of Nations Trophy – $150,000
The Africa Cup of Nationa (AFCON) trophy is one of the most expensive trophies in football. Throughout history, three trophies have been awarded to the winners of the competition. Originally known as the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after the first CAF president, it was made of silver. In 1978, Ghana obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy.
The second trophy named “Trophy of African Unity” or “Africa Unity Cup” was awarded from 1980 to 2000. Camerons obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy after they became three-time champions in 2000.
The third and current design of the gold-plated trophy was unveiled in 2001. After winning the competition three times, Egypt won the gold-plated cup indefinitely. However, they were given a replica whose dimensions are equal to that of the original trophy.
5. Ballon d’Or Trophy – $805,439
The Ballon d’Or is arguably the most prestigious individual trophy in the world of football. It is an annual football award presented by the French news magazine France Football. The award has been in existence since 1956.
Designed by a renowned French jewelling house known as Mellerio dits Meller, the creation involved engraving, polishing, writing, and jewelling. To start with, two brass hemispheres are combined using a blowtorch.
Although the true value of the Ballon d’Or is not known, it has been valued at £600,000 (about $805,439) ever since Cristiano Ronaldo sold one of his for that amount at a charity auction.
4. The FA Cup Trophy – $1.18 Million
The FA Cup competition is the oldest national football competition in the world. The trophy has undergone two major designs with the first redesign being made way back in 1911.
Designed and manufactured by Fattorini & Sons, the FA Cup trophy weighs 6.3 kg of sterling 925 silver and is 61.5 cm tall. The trophy underwent an intricate process that included polishing, hand carving, hand chasing, and casting during its development.
The current FA Cup replica was made in 2014 by Thomas Lyte after over 250 hours of handcrafting in sterling 925 silver.
3. UEFA Europa League Trophy – $4.5 Million
The UEFA Europa League trophy is the second most expensive trophy in world football. It is the second-tier competition of European club football, sandwiched in between the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Conference League.
Designed and crafted in 1972 by Silvio Gazzaniga, the trophy weighs 15kg and is silver on a yellow marble plinth. It is also 67cm tall, and the base is formed with two onyx discs in which a band with the flags of the UEFA member nations is inserted.
2. Copa Libertadores Trophy – $8.5 Million
Ranking number two on the list of most expensive trophies in the world of football is the Copa Libertadores trophy. The trophy which is awarded to the winner of the annual Copa Libertadores de America competition is worth a whopping $8.5 million.
The Copa Libertadores is the top-level club football tournament in South America. Originally designed to allow for 18 winners’ badges, the trophy was redesigned to accommodate more. Winners of the competition get to keep the trophy until the draw for the next season takes place, at which point the team receives a replica and returns the original.
Also, a club that wins the Copa Libertadores de América tournament for three consecutive seasons gets to keep the cup permanently.
1. FIFA World Cup Trophy – $20 Million
FIFA World Cup is the most valuable and most expensive trophy in the world. Created in 1974 by renowned Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and awarded to the winning teams at the World Cup tournaments that occur every four years.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is worth a whopping $20 million, making it the most expensive trophy in the world of sports. The winning team gets its name engraved onto the trophy’s base alongside previous winners. It is constructed of 18-carat gold and features two Malachite rings at the base. The trophy weighs 6.1 kilos. The award is magnificent, with two human figures holding a globe in their hands (the Earth).
