Everything is at stake. The last season now defines greatness for The Best, a FIFA award that honors the best player of the year across Europe, extending beyond any single league and including every major competition, notably the Champions League. The emphasis is on performance, influence, and consistency shown over the entire season, not merely on occasional moments or a snapshot of form. This award recognizes a player whose contributions elevate the game on a continental scale.
The Best trophy took shape in 2016 after FIFA and France Football parted ways, with the former Ballon d’Or evolving into a new identity. The Best distinguishes itself from the reintroduced Ballon d’Or, a traditional accolade published by France Football, while maintaining its own prestige and criteria. The shift reflected a broader, more global view of excellence in football and created a fresh symbol for the sport’s top performers.
The list of recipients for The Best has grown in prestige and includes some of football’s most celebrated names, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, and Robert Lewandowski. Yet fans often wonder about the trophy itself—what material it is made from, how heavy it weighs, and its overall dimensions. This article delves into those details, offering a complete picture of the award’s physical presence and the craftsmanship behind it.
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The best trophy: how much it weighs, how it’s made and how much it costs
The trophy is plated in platinum, chosen to honor the season’s standout performers and to reflect a sense of lasting value. Commissioned by FIFA, the design aims to capture the elegance and authority associated with the game at its highest level. The Best trophy shares a visual language with the trophies awarded to the game’s top coaches and players, forming a family of recognitions that echoes the reverence for football’s most influential figures. It also carries a nod to the World Cup, underscoring the global context in which The Best operates.
Croatian designer Ana Barbic Katicic crafted the award, describing the process as an homage to the world’s best players in FIFA. Her approach respected longstanding conventions while preserving FIFA’s identity, ensuring the trophy remains instantly recognizable as a symbol of elite achievement. The designer’s statement highlights a balance between tradition and modern interpretation, celebrating the enduring legacy of football’s greatest performances.
The core of the trophy centers on a representation that includes a football motif drawing from the very first World Cup final held in 1930 between Argentina and Uruguay. The entire body, including the ball element at the top, is clad in platinum, reinforcing its premium status. Adon Production AG, a company based near Zurich, was responsible for bringing the design to life, applying precision engineering and craftsmanship to achieve a precise final form.
The award measures 310 millimeters in height and weighs 6.4 kilograms, presenting a substantial and elegant silhouette. It comprises five distinct sections: a lower base, a supporting base, a carbon-inlaid feature on the base, the main body, and the top ball. Advanced manufacturing techniques borrowed from Formula 1 and aerospace engineering were employed to ensure the sculpture’s balance, stability, and durability, all essential for a trophy that travels the world for ceremonies and presentations.
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The best trophy: how much it weighs, how it’s made and how much it costs
The voting section above is a glimpse into engagement around the awards, with fans weighing in on their favorite posts and clubs. The interaction reflects how deeply supporters connect with football stories, players, and teams. Although the ceremony and design celebrate a league of excellence, the real value lies in the ongoing dialogue among fans and the sport’s global community. The Best award, in its visual grandeur and symbolic heft, embodies the idea that peak performance deserves lasting recognition.
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Removed for clarity: discussions around the award focus on the trophy, its creation, and the achievements that define The Best. The material choices, dimensional details, and the manufacturing partners illustrate how design complements achievement on the world stage. The Best continues to symbolize excellence across Europe and beyond, recognizing a player’s influence across competitions and seasons, and inviting fans to reflect on who stood tallest in a given year.