The word "trophy" is rooted in the French word "trophee", meaning a spoil of war and prize. Since the 16th century, they have served as recognition or evidence of merit. Sports is one industry invested in awarding trophies, which are made of expensive materials to show the competition's value and honour and award the player's hard work. This article features the top 15 most expensive sports trophies in the world right now.
Trophies are now made of some of the most expensive materials in the world, attaching an incredible value to what might seem like a small metallic object. Below is a listicle of the most expensive trophies in sports.
Top 15 most expensive sports trophies in the world
Sports trophies are more than just glittering symbols of victory. They are iconic symbols of excellence and achievement in the world of athletics. Here are some of the most expensive trophies in the world today.
15. Premier League trophy - $10,000 (Football)
- Height: 104 cm
- Weight: 25 kg
- Material: Sterling silver and 24 Carat silver gilt
The Premier League trophy is one of the most desired cups, judging from the toughness of the world's most prestigious football league, the English Premier League.
The cup's design is based on the theme of 'The Three Lions of English Football', with two lions above each of the two handles on either side, and when one holds the cup and the larger crown of the cup on its head, he becomes the third lion. Regarding its weight, the base into which the champion's name is engraved amounts to 15.9 kg.
The league uses two identical cups, one for the champions and one for the league, and the title holders must return the trophy about three weeks from their last league match.
14. UEFA Champions League trophy - $15,000 ( Football)
- Height: 71 cm
- Weight: 7.5 kg
- Material: Sterling silver
The UEFA Champions League trophy is the ultimate price in European football. Like the Premier League, this cup has its replica, which is given to the club, while the original version stays with the league. The winning team goes with the trophy accompanied by $20 million prize money, while the runners-up get $19 million for reaching the Champions League final.
13. ICC World Cup Cricket trophy - $30,000 (Cricket)
- Height: 65 cm
- Weight: 11 kg
- Material: Gold and sterling silver
Cricket lovers know how important the ICC World Cup trophy is to the franchise. However, most people do not know its details, including the two months it took for artisans to create. The cup depicts a golden globe and three silver columns representing the three fundamental aspects of cricket: batting, bowling, and fielding. The ICC keeps the original cup, while its replica is awarded to the title holder.
12. Vince Lombardi trophy - $50,000 (American Football)
- Height: 56 cm
- Weight: 3.2 kg
- Material: Solid Sterling Silver
Awarded to the Super Bowl-winning team in the National Football League, the Vince Lombardi trophy is named in honour of NFL coach Vince Lombardi. It is made of sterling silver and takes four months and 72 hours to create.
11. Bundesliga Meisterschale - $57,102 (Football)
- Weight: 11 kg
- Material: 71.98-carat tourmaline, silver, and gold
The Bundesliga Meisterschale is the prize presented to the champions of the top-tier German football league. This trophy was initially granted to FC Köln in 1964, marking the conclusion of the inaugural first-division league season. It replaced the Viktoria statue, which had been lost during the upheaval of World War II.
10. Serie A trophy - $66,000 (Football)
- Height: 58 cm
- Weight: 8 kg
- Materials: Sodalite and gold
The Serie A cup was originally known as the Trophy of the Champions of Italy and was designed by renowned sculptor Ettore Calvelli in 1960. The trophy has a blue sodalite base and a gold ring in the middle depicting athletes.
The current trophy bears the names of every team that has won the league since the 1960-1961 season. It weighs 8 kilograms and recently underwent a makeover making it 58 centimetres tall.
9. Africa Cup of Nations trophy - $150,000 (Football)
- Height: 60 cm
- Weight: 8 kg
- Materials: Gold plating
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy is the prestigious prize awarded to the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, which is the premier international football tournament in Africa. The tournament is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is held every two years, featuring the best national teams from across the African continent.
8. Stanley Cup - $650,000 (Ice Hockey)
- Height: 89.54 cm
- Weight: 15.5 kg
- Material: Silver and nickel alloy
The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy awarded to a professional sports franchise, dating back to 1892. Winners are traditionally awarded the cup in ice and, at their own expense, may get the club's name and year engraved on a silver ring fitted on the cup. It is the most valuable trophy of North America's four major professional sports leagues.
7. Ballon d’Or - $805,439 (Football)
- Height: 31 cm
- Weight: 7 kg
- Material: Melted Gold
The Ballon d'Or trophy is an annual football award presented by French news magazine France Football since 1956. It is first shaped from a wax-like material, while the surface of the ball is covered with five kilograms of 18-carat gold. In 2007, the awards became a global prize with all professional footballers worldwide eligible.
6. The FA Cup trophy - $1.18 million (Football)
- Height: 61.5 cm
- Weight: 6.3 kg
- Material: Solid sterling silver
Winners of the world's oldest association football competition are awarded the FA Cup. Since the tournament's existence in 1872, there have been five trophies, recently settling for the larger, newly designed $1.18 million silver cup.
5. BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games trophy - $1.3 million (Diamond Games)
- Weight: 4.5 kg
- Material: Gold racquet, studied with diamonds
The BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games trophy ranks as the world's sixth most valuable trophy. This prestigious award is presented to the champions of the Diamond Games tournament. It boasts a weight of 4.5 kilograms and is crafted from gold, adorned with over 1,700 dazzling diamonds. The trophy's exquisite design features a tennis ball at its centre, framed by a tennis racquet-shaped motif.
4. Borg Warner trophy - $3.5 million (Motorsport)
- Height: 1625 cm
- Weight: 45 kg
- Material: Hollow sterling silver
Named for and commissioned by automotive supplier Borg Warner, the trophy is awarded to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, first presented in 1936.
The winner does not get to keep the trophy for even a minute, as it is permanently housed and stored at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. However, they get to keep a miniature version known as the 'Baby Borg'. The trophy was refurbished twice, in 1991 and 2004.
3. Woodlawn Vase - $4 million (Horse riding)
- Height: 91 cm
- Weight: 13 kg
- Material: Solid sterling silver
The Woodlawn Vase is annually presented to the winner of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of America's horse-racing triple crown, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Standing at 91 cm and weighing 13 kg, it was appraised in 1983 by Tiffany and Company at $1 million, established for insurance purposes. Its replacement value is reported to exceed $4 million.
2. Copa Libertadores trophy - $8.5 million (Football)
- Height: 60 cm
- Weight: 2.7 kg
- Material: Silver, bronze, and plywood
The Copa Libertadores trophy is a highly coveted prize, and winning the competition is a significant achievement for any club in the continent. The trophy has a distinctive design, with a silver globe at the top, representing the Americas, and a pedestal adorned with the names of past champions. It's considered the equivalent of the UEFA Champions League trophy in European football.
1. FIFA World Cup trophy - $20 million (Football)
- Height: 37 cm
- Weight: 6 kg
- Material: 18-carat gold
The FIFA World Cup trophy is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup after every four years. It is one of the most expensive football competitions, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup estimated to cost an incredible $220 billion. The new design came in 1974 before the old Jules Rimet trophy was stolen in 1983 but never recovered. The cup's design depicts two human figures holding up the earth.
What is the smallest sports trophy?
The Ashes Urn is the world's smallest sports trophy. The pocket-sized award was granted to the winner of the competitive test cricket series between England and Australia in 1982/83. Standing at 10.5 cm, it is made of terracotta and is believed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket ball.
What is the hardest trophy to win?
The Stanley Cup is the most difficult competition trophy to win. It is the oldest and most iconic cup, with its competition level rising significantly through the playoffs. The competition gets tougher as every team in the postseason has a chance, regardless of how they did during the regular season.
As the trophies above may have an incredible amount of value attached to them, their financial value might be the least concern for the winners of each competition. While the most expensive sports trophies might not mean as much to a franchise, the least expensive might mean the world to many.
Sportsbrief.com recently published a list of the most successful football clubs with the most trophies. The most successful football clubs in the world have won numerous trophies. They engage the best possible athletes to increase the number of wins and awards.
These football clubs have also signed top athletes and coaches. Coaches, players, and other relevant officials work closely to raise more wins, trophies, and other awards.
