Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and became the only team to have had three World Cups, putting them in the fourth box of top winners. The South Americans are only surpassed by Italy (4), Germany (4) and Brazil (5). Although the Albiceleste team is already touring their country with the trophy, this is the replica.
FIFA only presented a similar one to Argentina after the celebrations at the Lusail Stadium. Although some fans expected it to be the original, Lionel Messi and companies had to be content with replicas despite winning the championship three times.
It turns out that after the 1970 World Cup, Brazil took possession of the Jules Rimet Cup – the World Cup’s first design – for adding their third championship. Against this backdrop, why can’t Argentina take the original?
He did it. Lionel Messi has fulfilled his dream of winning the world title with the Argentine team. Photo: EFE
World Cup: Argentina and the three-time championship
Since its inception with World, from 1930 to 1974, the regulations of FIFA It was stipulated that the team that wins three times will receive the original trophy and be replaced with a new one. In this way, Brazil was the only team to take it home as this rule was later changed.
For the 1974 World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football ordered the preparation of the current World Cup that we all know. However, this would be the property of the body and would only be given to the champion during the Closing Ceremony and then returned for display at the FIFA Museum in Switzerland. As a replacement, the winning national team would receive a replica.
“The winning team of the 2022 FIFA World Cup receives the FIFA World Cup Trophy, which remains the property of FIFA. The winning team will receive the trophy during an on-field ceremony at the end of the final and must return the trophy to FIFA in the dressing room immediately after the closing ceremony and before leaving the stadium. At that point, the winning team will receive the FIFA World Cup Champions Trophy,” the regulations read.
These are the teams that have won a soccer World Cup at least once. Photo: Composition LR/AFP/Goal
Will Argentina keep the replica?
In this way, the Argentine team obtains the replica, which it keeps for four years and ships to Canada, the United States and Mexico, the host countries of the 2026 World Cup. Unlike the original, which is made of gold, the copy is made of 18 carats of copper and zinc inside and a bath of three layers of gold.
“The winning Participating Association shall, at its own expense, take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the Cup and the Championship Trophy for as long as these awards are in its possession,” the FIFA document reads.
Messi became world champion in 2022 and Maradona in 1986. Photo: Composition LR/AFP
Who can touch the World Cup?
According to FIFA regulations, nobody is allowed to touch that World Championship. Only footballers and coaches who have won a World Cup have the right to lift them without gloves. Next to them are the presidents of the countries and the head of the highest authority in world football.
Brazil became world champions for the first time in Sweden in 1958, with Pelé on the pitch. Photo: Twitter