It shines with gold, reflects the light of spotlights, champions' names are inscribed on it. It is lifted above the heads to the cheers of tens of thousands. It is the cup. Is it just a container for drinks? No. The cup in sports is more than a prize. It is a symbol. An hieroglyph of victory. A monument to the moment when you were the best. Especially in football. Let's understand why a simple metal bowl can make grown men cry and enter history. From an ancient bowl to a golden trophy The history of the cup as a reward dates back to Ancient Greece. There, winners of the Olympic Games were awarded olive wreaths. Not cups. But in Ancient Rome, winners of military parades were celebrated with wine bowls. Later, in medieval Europe, knights at tournaments received cups from ladies as a sign of the highest honor. But the true cult of the cup was born in the 19th century with the birth of modern sports. The first football trophy that can be called a cup was the FA Cup, established in 1871. The very same silver one, 45 centimeters tall. Since then, every sport has acquired its own bowls. The Libertadores Cup. The Stanley Cup in hockey. The Davis Cup in tennis. But in football, the cult is especially strong. Why? Because football is a team game, and the cup goes to everyone: players, coaches, staff, even fans. It is a collective ownership of a collective victory. The form matters: what does the perfect cup look like Not every bowl becomes a symbol. A real sports cup has a code. First of all, it is heavy. Several kilograms of pure silver or gold leaf. The weight conveys the weight of victory. Secondly, it is tall — so that it can be seen from the farthest stands. Thirdly, there is room for engraving on it. The names of the winners are engraved on the pedestal. It turns out a chronicle that can be touched with your hands. The FIFA World Cup trophy is 36 centimeters tall, made of 18-karat gold, weighing 6.1 kg. It features two figures of footballers holding a globe ... Read more