We are the Champions

This Sunday a new team will raise the World Cup trophy. The captain of the winning side will proudly hoist the trophy into the air as his teammates celebrate around him, and his countrymen at home rejoice in the fact that they have captured the most coveted prize in the world.

The World Cup trophy stands just over 14 inches tall and is made of over 13 pounds of 18 karat gold putting its value at over $200,000. The trophy itself is hollow. Were it made of solid gold, it would be quite the feat for the winning captain to raise it overhead, as it would weigh about 150 pounds.

Eventually, after all the players have had their turn holding and kissing the trophy, the party will wind down. The confetti will stop falling. The photographers will head home. And the team captain will hand the trophy back to the FIFA officials on site who will whisk the trophy back to its home in Switzerland where it will be kept under lock and key for four years until the next tournament. The winners will take home a brass replica.

FIFA takes no chances with their trophy. Because of their security measures, the World Cup trophy has never been stolen since it was first awarded to West Germany in 1974. The trophy used for the first nine World Cups, the Jules Rimet Trophy, was a different story entirely.

First presented to Uruguay at the 1930 World Cup the Jules Rimet trophy has a storied history. During World War Two the trophy was held by the most recent (1938) champion, Italy. Ottarino Barassi, the Italian vice-president of FIFA, smuggled the trophy out of a bank in Rome and kept it in a shoebox under his bed to protect it from the Nazis.

In 1966, just a few months prior to the tournament the trophy was on display in London. Despite round the clock security a thief broke into the display case holding the cup and stole the trophy (ironically the case also contained a stamp collection valued at $3 million, far more than the gold-plated trophy). The theft put England in a panic. They were due to host the world cup in just a matter of months, and now the prize had gone missing. A countrywide search was conducted to no avail.

With no leads, and no direction FIFA officials were desperate. Then, a;; hopes were answered by the unlikeliest of heroes. A black and white border collie named Pickles. While on a walk with his owner Pickles began sniffing at a package wrapped in newspaper by the wheel of a car. Due to recent political unrest, the dog’s owner cautiously approached the package suspecting it may be an explosive. As he tore away one corner of the newspaper however, he knew immediately what Pickles had found. Just seven days after it was taken, the cup was returned, in plenty of time for the tournament. When England ended up winning the tournament, Pickles was invited to the award banquet.

After the theft FIFA got smart and made up a replica of the trophy that could be used for display. After the 1970 World Cup, the real trophy was taken back to Brazil, to be kept permanently, as stipulated by Jules Rimet. It was on display until 1983, when it was stolen again, and never recovered.

FIFA learned their lesson with their first trophy, and now takes no chances with the 18-karat gold cup. The new trophy is one of, if not the, most recognizable award in the world. As such, they go to every extent possible to protect it.

As valuable as the trophy may be, at the end of the day, if it were stolen, another one could easily be made to replace it. Most of us have similar objects around us all the time. Our cars, our phones, our jewelry. All expensive. All special to us. But ultimately, replaceable. But even though they could be replaced, we still often take extra measures to make sure they are safe. We have alarms on our cars, trackers on our phones, and safes for our jewelry.

Remember however that you also have one thing that could not be replaced. You. If heaven forbid something was to happen to you, your family and friends could not replace you. They could not replicate the person you are, and the feelings you inspire. I could never try to suggest that they could. You as a person are irreplaceable. But you as an asset, or you as an income stream is replaceable. If people depend on income stream version of you, you need to keep it safe. And the way to do that is term life insurance. A new year is about to start, and there is a good chance you will be making some new financial goals. If you don’t already have term life insurance, make that your first goal.