Jules Rimet trophy was made in 1929 by first president of FIFA's order: Jules Rimet. Before organizing the World Cup for the first time in 1930, FIFA had announced that the trophy could be brought home by a country that won three World Cups. But due to tight competition between countries, the Jules Rimet trophy still was not owned by any country for the next 40 years.
Jules Rimet trophy was the most coveted trophy in the world. Raising it would brought pride both for individuals and countries that won it. But there were too much dramas around the trophy.
During the World War II the trophy had to be hidden in a shoe box of an Italian because Nazi soldiers wanted to seize it when they entered Italy. In 1950 the trophy was given to Uruguay without proper ceremony because it seemed unethical to give the trophy in front of the Brazilian people who were sad because they lost to Uruguay in the Maracana.
In 1966, Jules Rimet was stolen in England, only four months before 1966 World Cup started. Luckily a dog named Pickles found it in bushes covered by newspaper a week later.
The trophy was finally awarded permanently to Brazil after it won the 1970 World Cup. Jules Rimet then was proudly displayed at the headquarters of the Brazilian football association/Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF).
In 1974 World Cup, FIFA introduced the new FIFA World Cup trophy to replace Jules Rimet trophy.
On the night of December 19th, 1983, 13 years after Brazil won the World Cup, the Jules Rimet trophy was lost. The trophy was shown on the third floor of the office of the Brazilian Football Federation, CBF, in Rio Rua da Alfandega, Rio de Janeiro.
In December 20th morning, the theft made a fuss all over Brazil. Rio State Bank even promised a big prize for anyone who managed to return the Jules Rimet trophy in its original condition.
The police immediately conducted an investigation to track the whereabouts of thieves. The day after the incident, two people who previously worked at CBF as cleaners were arrested.
Even Pele asked the perpetrators to return the trophy. Unfortunately the surrendering perpetrators claimed that they had melted the Jules Rimet trophy and sold it as bullion. The bullion was worth around USD 220,000.
Pele said that the robbery happened because of poverty in Brazil. Moreover the incident took place in Rio de Janeiro, a city with high criminal and poverty rates.
In 1984, FIFA gave the replica of the Jules Rimet trophy to Brazil. But the whereabouts of the original is still unknown to date.
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