Top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world

Top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world

Helix Odhiambo
March 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM
In this article:
FIFA World Cup logo
FIFA World Cup
International
CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores logo
Copa Libertadores
Americas
UEFA Champions League logo
UEFA Champions League
English Premier League logo
ENG Premier League
England
CAF Africa Cup of Nations logo
CAF AFCON
Africa

Football is the most popular and arguably the most competitive sport, with enthralling tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Winners of these competitions walk away with a trophy made of expensive materials that attach incredible value to them.

Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi
Kevin De Bruyne (L) of Manchester City with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) with the FIFA World Cup. Photo: Matteo Ciambelli, Marcelo Endelli (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Trophies are crucial for every team and player. Winning the FIFA World Cup trophy is different from lifting the Carabao Cup because of the different natures of the competitions. Sports Brief conducted an in-depth analysis from various sources and compiled a list of top football trophies and their worth.

Top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world

Which are the most expensive football trophies in the world? The FIFA World Cup is the most costly title in soccer and one of the most desired titles in sports. It is a uniquely designed title awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup after every four years.

We used data from various sources to compile this list such as NSS Magazine and Khelnow.com, among others, to compile this list for you, so you can sit, relax, and take it all in.

Trophy

Worth

English Premier League

$10,000

UEFA Champions League

$15,000

Bundesliga Meisterschale

$57,102

Seria A

$66,000

African Cup of Nations

$150,000

Ballon d'Or

$805,439

FA Cup

$1.18 million

UEFA Europa League

$4.5 million

Copa Libertadores

$8.5 million

FIFA World Cup

$20 million

10. English Premier League trophy - $10,000

English Premier League fans are familiar with the coveted title given to the best team at the end of the season. EPL is one of the oldest football leagues in history, featuring 20 clubs, each playing 38 games.

The Premier League trophy
The Premier League trophy is among the most expensive and hotly contested football titles. Photo: Visionhaus, Catherine Ivill (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The cup's design is based on the theme of 'The Three Lions of English Football.' EPL winners earn over $150 million in prize money.

  • Height: 104 cm
  • Weight: 25 kg
  • Material: Sterling silver and 24 Carat silver gilt
  • Created by: Asprey London

9. UEFA Champions League trophy - $15,000

UEFA Champions League trophy
The UEFA Champions League Trophy at Grimaldi Forum on 31 August 2023, in Monaco. Photo: Marcio Machado
Source: Getty Images

The UEFA Champions League is considered the most prestigious European club competition, but its trophy is less artistic than its reputation. The Champions League title is awarded to the best club in Europe annually. Winners also take home $20 million in prize money.

  • Height: 73.5 cm
  • Weight: 7.5 kg
  • Material: Sterling silver
  • Created by: Jürg Stadelmann

8. Bundesliga Meisterschale trophy - $57,102

Bundesliga Meisterschale trophy
Germany's Bundesliga Meisterschale trophy is one of the most valuable football trophies. Photo: Stefan Matzke
Source: Getty Images

The Bundesliga Meisterschale is one of the most expensive football trophies in the world. It is awarded to winners of Germany's top-tier league, the Bundesliga. Meisterschale is a German word meaning Championship trophy. The cup replaced the Viktoria statue, which disappeared in World War II.

  • Weight: 11 kg
  • Material: 71.98-carat tourmaline, silver, and gold
  • Created by: Elisabeth Treskow

7. Seria A trophy - $66,000

The Scudetto trophy
Napoli players hold the Scudetto trophy at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, on 4 June 2023. Photo: Alberto Lingria
Source: Getty Images

Italy's Seria A title, also known as the Scudetto trophy, ranks among the top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world in 2024. The cup was made in 1960 by Ettore Calvelli, an Italian medallist and sculptor. It is awarded to the best Italian club in Serie A at the end of the season.

  • Height: 58 cm
  • Weight: 8kg
  • Material: Sodalite and gold
  • Created by: Ettore Calvelli

6. African Cup of Nations trophy - $150,000

Africa Cup of Nations trophy
The Africa Cup of Nations trophy at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on 11 February 2024. Photo: Franck Fife
Source: Getty Images

The Africa Cup of Nations is a prestigious event and one of the most competitive tournaments, featuring the best African countries. The winner gets the AFCON title, whose value is more than the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League cups. Three different AFCON trophies have been awarded to winners since its inception.

  • Height: 60 cm
  • Weight: 8 kg
  • Material: Gold plating

5. Ballon d'Or trophy - $805,439

Ballon d'Or trophy
The Ballon d'Or trophy by France Football which was presented to Lionel Messi at Parc des Princes on 1 December 2021, in Paris, France. Photo: Xavier Laine
Source: Getty Images

The prestigious Ballon d'Or title is awarded to the most outstanding soccer player annually, presented by France Football magazine since 1956. Lionel Messi has the most (8), followed by Cristiano Ronaldo (5). Ronaldo sold a replica of his 2013 Ballon d'Or award in London in 2017, fetching around $673k for the Make-A-Wish charity foundation.

  • Height: 31 cm
  • Weight: 7 kg
  • Material: Melted Gold
  • Created by: Mellerio dits Meller

4. FA Cup trophy - $1.18 million

FA Cup trophy
The Emirates FA Cup trophy is a prestigious piece that has existed for years. Photo: Matthew Ashton, Catherine Ivill (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The FA Cup is the oldest competition in England. It stands for Football Association Challenge Cup. Bolton Wanderers won the first edition in the 1871-72 season, while Arsenal has lifted it the most (14). The trophy is worth millions of dollars and is contested by top English clubs annually.

  • Height: 61.5 cm
  • Weight: 6.3 kg
  • Material: Solid sterling silver
  • Created by: Thomas Lyte

3. UEFA Europa League trophy - $4.5 million

UEFA Europa League trophy
The UEFA Europa League trophy at the Aviva Stadium, on 22 May 2024. Photo: Karl Bridgeman
Source: Getty Images

The UEFA Europe League (UEL) is Europe's second-tier club competition after the UEFA Champions League, but its trophy is more valuable than the UCL. The UEL trophy has a unique design and is made of expensive material, making it the third-most costly football cup.

  • Height: 65 cm
  • Weight: 15 kg
  • Material: Silver
  • Created by: Silvio Gazzaniga (Bertoni workshop)

2. Copa Libertadores trophy - $8.5 million

Copa Libertadores trophy
The Copa Libertadores trophy at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on 9 December 2021 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Marcelo Endelli
Source: Getty Images

The South American League's top club title is the second-most expensive football trophy worth $8.5 million. The trophy has a distinctive design, with a silver globe at the top. The cup was first designed in 1959 and has undergone alterations on the lower half, with the upper half remaining constant.

  • Height: 60 cm
  • Weight: 2.7 kg
  • Material: Silver and bronze
  • Created by: Alberto de Gasperi

1. FIFA World Cup trophy - $20 million

FIFA World Cup trophy
The FIFA World Cup trophy at Lusail Stadium on 18 December 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. Photo: Ulrik Pedersen
Source: Getty Images

How much is the World Cup trophy worth? The prestigious FIFA World Cup title is the most expensive soccer trophy in the world. It is worth $20 million and arguably the most expensive competition.

The 2022 edition cost around $220 billion, according to Forbes. The FIFA World Cup is also the most expensive sports trophy on earth.

  • Height: 37 cm
  • Weight: 6 kg
  • Material: 18-carat gold
  • Created by: Silvio Gazzaniga

Trivia

What is the hardest football trophy to win?

The World Cup is considered the most difficult title to win in football. It is played once every four years and features the best players worldwide representing their nations. The tournament gets tougher as teams progress to the knockout stages.

What is the most valuable football trophy in the world?

The FIFA World Cup is the most expensive football trophy, worth $20 million. The Copa Libertadores follows with $8.5 million and the UEFA Europa League trophy ($4.5 million).

Which is more expensive, the World Cup or the Champions League?

The World Cup is more valuable than the UEFA Champions League. The FIFA tournament costs billions to organize every four years. The Champions League is an annual competition involving the best European clubs.

Which is more expensive, the FA Cup or the Premier League?

The Premier League trophy is less expensive than the FA Cup but is the most competitive and challenging to win. The EPL trophy is worth $10,000, while the FA Cup is $1.18 million.

Final word

Many players dream of winning at least one or more of the top 10 most expensive football trophies in the world. Some are expensive but less difficult to win, while others have low value and are hard to win. It is also common to see teams and players prioritising specific titles over others because of the prestige of winning the competitions.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.