“The former trophy was more beautiful. The current trophy exists a thousand times, there are so many duplicates. Everybody’s got one.
“If you win it it’s special. It’s the most important thing in a footballer’s career. But I would lift a coffee cup as well if that would be the trophy.
“It’s all about the symbolic character, it doesn’t matter what kind of trophy you lift.”
- Sepp Maier, West Germany 1974
“I can’t talk about something that I’ve never touched. I don’t know how to answer. Passarella and Fillol held it and I couldn’t do it. They didn’t let me.
“I suppose it would be heavy; it would be an amazing feeling to hold it.
“After many years - at France 1998 - I had a trophy, I took a picture with a trophy, but I’m not really sure if it was the authentic one.”
- Mario Kempes, Argentina 1978
“To hold and kiss the trophy made a big impact on me. It was like a kiss from your mother, with love and sweetness.
“It was a flashback to my childhood; like hugging a family member. It was a really emotional feeling, an unforgettable moment.
“The trophy is very beautiful, the Italian designer did a great job.
“Is it heavy? In that moment, you didn’t realise it. We were crazy with happiness; we didn’t want to put it down. It wasn’t a private or peaceful celebration; many people were on the field. We knew what this success would mean throughout time. ‘El Flaco’ (Menotti) had told us before the final match: ‘Make an extra effort and you will make history.’”
- Ubaldo Fillol, Argentina 1978
“It was really exciting to win this trophy. I must admit that [Enzo] Bearzot did an amazing job, being able to handle a difficult situation.
“Bearzot was exemplary, a commander and also very brave. I remember that there were many controversies in many regards but the squad was able to think solely about achieving excellent results.
“In the final I made the most important save of my career. I remember only so much joy.”
- Dino Zoff, Italy 1982
“It was very exciting to touch the cup. I remember it being a very tough tournament. At the beginning, few people believed in our abilities and there were many controversies.
“We managed to find the right confidence game after game. Bearzot did a great job showing himself to be a great man and a great coach.
“Maradona? It was a tough duel.”
- Claudio Gentile, Italy 1982
“To touch and hold the World Cup was the most important experience that I’ve had in my career. It was a pleasure. I do it every time when I have it close to me and I can touch it again.
“I feel happy doing that and it makes me realise, through the years, how hard is to live that moment.
“Thank God we could get it in 1986. I hope the boys of the current national team could win the World Cup some time. It isn’t easy. Through the years nobody could repeat it. You need to make a big effort to win it.”
- Oscar Ruggeri, Argentina 1986
“My first impression was that the trophy is quite small but at the same time quite cumbersome. I like the design very much, that was always the case. You’ve seen the trophy for many times - on TV, magazines or pictures. But what impressed me most was really the weight, especially in relation to the size. I was in really good shape back then, but I was really surprised about the weight when I lifted the trophy for the first time. Nevertheless I was able to hang it down from the balcony of the city hall in Frankfurt with only one hand.
“It was a huge relief to hold the trophy in my hands. Especially after that game, I had to do almost nothing, but nevertheless you have to be 100 per cent focused until the game’s end. Diego Maradona was on the other side, the Argentines won the World Cup four years prior, all these things. There was a lot of pressure and when we got the trophy the relief was so big. The pressure fell down from our shoulders.
“There is still a special relationship to the trophy for sure. You are a World Cup winner forever. This title accompanies your whole life.”
- Bodo Illgner, West Germany 1990
“The 1994 title was remarkable for my career and having that special moment with the trophy was the most important thing.
“We all know that so many great players have also raised it and I had that privilege. It is amazing.
“Besides being very beautiful, the trophy has great meaning and we knew the weight that it represents.”
- Taffarel, Brazil 1994
“It is a moment you never forget; such a great feeling of joy and happiness. It was a magic moment.
“It’s not that heavy and the design makes it really easy to lift with one hand.
“What I love about the look is the green colour at the bottom that reminds me of the football pitch. I was very proud to win for my country; especially as it was the first time for France.”
- Robert Pires, France 1998
“It was the most incredible sensation. Becoming a world champion was to realise a childhood dream. To hold that beautiful World Cup, with all its glamour, was the greatest satisfaction and feeling of joy.
“I will take that moment with me for the rest of my life and, to ensure I never forget, I have a replica at home.
“I am just so grateful to have had the chance to be a world champion and hold that trophy.”
- Lucio, Brazil 2002
“It was all very nice. Marcello Lippi was our leader and thanks to him we were able to do beautiful things together.
“It was incredible joy; we worked hard and we gained the right confidence to get the maximum.”
- Vincenzo Iaquinta, Italy 2006
“That award represents the best thing that can ever happen to a football player. It is a trophy apart, a special award, a particular feeling, a special one.
“The World Cup is the most beautiful trophy I have ever won and the one which gave me most satisfaction ever.
“Having it in your hands is more than a dream. It’s small but you can feel the weight. It’s something different to all others.”
- Cesc Fabregas, Spain 2010
“It is curious because when Silvio Gazzaniga died I was at Las Rozas looking at a picture of both of us with the trophy in 2010. He was so old when we took the picture and a member of RFEF press staff told me he was just died. I felt so sad.
“He built the most important and interesting trophy there has ever been. What this trophy means is something absolutely symbolic, especially to us Spanish; we have been true football lovers for a long time but we never were able to win the World Cup before.
“It was weird for us - with a huge football tradition. It wasn’t normal. But having this trophy in the hands is something unique. When I had the trophy for the first time in my hands I felt like we finally accomplished our mission after a lot of years; I think it is going to be very difficult for another Spanish team to win and we all are proud after being the first ones to avoid quarter-final damnation in a lot of decades and the first ones to win it.”
- Vicente del Bosque, Spain 2010
“In the changing room we were all proud; we took photos with the cup. The whole dressing room was full of people. The DFB bosses came in and later the chancellor Angela Merkel. Normally we would have been silent and welcomed her. But we were so full of adrenaline we did not stop singing and jumping around the room, drinking alcohol and giving each other champagne showers. We only saw the cup and nothing else. While partying hard we realised that we all reached this one trophy every player of the world dreams of.
“After that we had a big party with a lot of people in the hotel. I remember that Per Mertesacker was dancing like crazy with the cup in his hands.
“The trophy was secured by some security men, so nobody could steal it and take it to bed.
“The party in Berlin was crazy! Thousands of people celebrated with us and were proud of us. There we felt how big the thing we reached was. Some bands were playing and we were behind the stage. Then we came out in groups and saw the people standing as far as we could see. Going out and presenting the trophy to the crowd was one of the best feelings of my life because it is a symbol of fulfilling your biggest dreams. It is the one cup everybody knows and everybody dreams of touching - if only for one time.
“Holding it in your hands make you realise you wrote history that will never been forgotten.”
- Ron-Robert Zieler, Germany 2014
