Silvio Gazzaniga

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Silvio Gazzaniga, born in 23 January 1921, is a sculptor from Milan, Italy. While working for the Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni company, he created the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Gazzaniga was a graduate of the Brera Academy, as is his daughter, Gabriella, and is a fan of AC Milan.

His design was chosen by committee on April 5, 1971. The trophy is 36cm high, weighs 4.97kg and is made of pure, 18-carat gold. Two rings of semi-precious malachite stones adorn the base. The winners' names are written onto the gold base. There is room for 17 named winners and each are engraved in the language of that winning nation.

Gazzaniga said of the design of the trophy: "My inspiration for the design came from two basic elements – the athlete and the world. I had it in my mind to create something that symbolised effort and exertion, while at the same time expressing harmony, simplicity and peace. The silhouette had to be linear, in order that the observer's attention would be drawn to the protagonist, that is to say, the footballer; a man who, at the moment of victory, would take on the aspect of a giant, without appearing superhuman. He had to be a hero, but a hero with the qualities of someone who has worked hard and suffered, who his fellow humans will identify with every day in life and whose arms, which seem to embrace the entire world, are the embodiment of the universality of sport.

"Were someone to give me this task again, I would only make minor changes to my original concept. These days, more importance is placed on what is on the outside rather than what is on the inside", said Gazzaniga regretfully. "The fact that my trophy has weathered many trends over the past 30 years (the Jules Rimet Cup endured for 40 years) bears witness to the fact that I allowed myself to be inspired by principles that are not eroded by the passing of time."

Gazzaniga has since designed the UEFA Cup trophy (1972), the UEFA Super Cup trophy (1973). the UEFA Under-21 European Championship trophy and the Baseball World Cup trophy (2001).