The Jules Rimet Trophy, the original prize for the World Cup, boasts a history as dramatic as the tournaments it represented. From being hidden from Nazis to two infamous thefts, one miraculously solved by a heroic dog named Pickles, its journey captures the very essence of football’s global passion and enduring mysteries.
Few sports artifacts carry as much mystique and dramatic history as the Jules Rimet Trophy. Named after the visionary FIFA President who commissioned it, this iconic prize for the World Cup has been a symbol of both international sporting triumph and baffling disappearances. Its story intertwines global conflicts, petty crime, and the surprising heroism of a black and white collie, culminating in a mystery that continues to captivate football fans worldwide.
The Birth of a Legend: From Vision to Victory
The Jules Rimet Trophy, initially known simply as ‘Victory,’ was brought into existence for the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. Commissioned by then-FIFA President Jules Rimet himself, the trophy was designed by French sculptor Abel Lafleur. It was crafted from gold-plated sterling silver and lapis lazuli, depicting Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, holding an octagonal cup above her head. This elegant art deco statue immediately became the most coveted prize in the world of sports.
After Uruguay won the first World Cup, the trophy remained in Montevideo for four years before moving to Italy, who claimed victory in 1934 and successfully defended their title in 1938. However, the trophy’s journey was about to take a far more perilous turn than any football match could offer.
Saved from the Nazis: Ottorino Barassi’s Brave Act
As World War II raged across Europe, the Jules Rimet Trophy found itself in a precarious position. Adolf Hitler, notorious for coveting historical artifacts, reportedly sought to acquire the trophy. In 1943, with Nazi troops occupying northern Italy, the trophy was being held in a bank in Rome. However, Ottorino Barassi, the Italian Football Federation Commissioner and FIFA Vice-President, had other plans for its safety.
In a remarkable act of defiance, Barassi secretly removed the trophy from the bank and took it to his home. He hid the precious statuette in a shoebox beneath his bed, protecting it from falling into Nazi hands. Despite raids on his house, the Nazis never discovered the prize, ensuring its survival for future tournaments. This clandestine act allowed the trophy to return to the global stage when West Germany won the World Cup in 1954.
The Great London Heist of 1966: A Nation’s Embarrassment
The post-war years saw the Jules Rimet Trophy enjoy a relatively peaceful existence, residing with various World Cup winners, including an eight-year stint in Brazil. This tranquility was shattered just four months before England was set to host the 1966 World Cup. On Sunday, March 20, 1966, the trophy, on public display as part of a rare stamps exhibition at Westminster’s Central Hall in London, vanished.
The theft plunged England into national embarrassment, making the country the “laughing stock of the entire world,” as noted by contemporary reports. Scotland Yard launched a massive investigation, but leads were scarce. The Football Association (FA) chairman, Joe Mears, soon received a ransom note from a man calling himself “Jackson,” demanding £15,000 for the trophy’s return. The thief even included a piece of the trophy to prove he had it.
Police orchestrated a sting operation with Mears, using fake money. The culprit, identified as Edward Betchley, was arrested. Betchley, a small-time crook, claimed he was merely a go-between for a more mysterious figure known as “the Pole.” Despite his pleas, Betchley was convicted, but the trophy remained missing. Fearing the worst, the FA even had a secret replica made by silversmith George Bird as a contingency.
Pickles to the Rescue: A Tail of Heroism
Just a week after the theft, on March 27, 1966, hope arrived in the most unexpected form. David Corbett was walking his black and white collie, Pickles, in Beulah Hill, South London. Pickles, with his famously keen nose, began sniffing intently around a garden hedge. He uncovered a package wrapped in newspaper and tied with string. Corbett unwrapped it to find the gleaming golden figure of the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Pickles instantly became a national hero, showered with fame and fortune. He was awarded the silver medal of the National Canine Defence League and named “Dog of the Year.” His celebrity status led to appearances on popular television programs like “Blue Peter” and even a role in the comedy film “The Spy with a Cold Nose.” David Corbett received a substantial £5,000 reward, a significant sum at the time. Pickles’ story became an integral part of England’s World Cup narrative, forever cementing his place in football lore as the dog who “won the World Cup.”
Sadly, Pickles’ fame was short-lived. In 1967, he died in an unfortunate accident after chasing a cat, with his leash tangling on a tree. He was buried in Corbett’s garden, with a plaque honoring him as “Pickles—Finder of the World Cup 1966.”
England’s Moment of Glory and the Trophy’s Lingering Questions
With the trophy safely recovered, England went on to win its first and only World Cup later that summer, beating West Germany 4-2 at Wembley. Queen Elizabeth II presented the recovered trophy to captain Bobby Moore. To avoid further incidents during celebrations, police reportedly swapped the original for the replica made by George Bird.
A persistent point of contention among trophy historians centers on whether the trophy eventually returned to FIFA and subsequently given to Brazil was the original or George Bird’s replica. Regardless, per the original intentions of Jules Rimet, the nation first to win the World Cup three times would keep the trophy permanently. Brazil achieved this feat in 1970, claiming their third title and, with it, permanent ownership of the Jules Rimet Trophy. The replica made by Bird was later purchased by FIFA in 1997 and now resides in England’s National Football Museum in Manchester.
The Final, Fateful Disappearance: Brazil’s Heartbreak
Brazil, a nation consumed by its love for football, proudly displayed the trophy as a testament to its dominance. It was housed in a bullet-proof glass case at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro. However, a local football official’s ironic comment in 1966 that “it would never have happened in Brazil” proved tragically false.
Sometime between the late hours of December 19 and early morning of December 20, 1983, thieves broke into the CBF headquarters. They accosted a security guard, tied him up, and then bypassed the bullet-proof glass by breaking through a plywood backing. Along with other prizes, the Jules Rimet Trophy was stolen for the final time. The alleged mastermind behind the theft was Sérgio Peralta, though details remain muddled.
The theft caused an even greater outcry and sense of national shame in Brazil than the 1966 incident had in England. A desperate national search ensued, but the trophy was never found. Two men were arrested, but no charges were ever filed, and one of the men later died under suspicious circumstances. Speculation has long held that the trophy was melted down into gold bars. However, this theory is challenged by the fact that the trophy was primarily sterling silver, merely gold-plated. Its disappearance remains one of the great unsolved mysteries in sports history.
The fate of the trophy after 1983 is shrouded in conjecture:
- Melted Down: The most common theory suggests the thieves melted the trophy for its material value.
- Collector’s Item: Some, like journalist Simon Kuper, believe it may be hidden away in a private collector’s possession.
- Another Replica: It’s also been posited that Brazil might not have had the original trophy in 1983, but a replica, adding another layer to the mystery.
As confirmed by a BBC Sport article, the Jules Rimet Trophy was indeed stolen from Brazil in 1983 and has not been recovered since, solidifying its status as one of football’s greatest historical enigmas. BBC Sport continues to cover its enduring mystery.
The Unmasking of the 1966 Thief: Sidney Cugullere’s Secret
For decades, the true identity of the 1966 thief remained a secret, with Edward Betchley maintaining he was merely a middleman. However, in 2017, investigative journalist Tom Pettifor uncovered compelling evidence pointing to Sidney Cugullere, a South London criminal. According to Pettifor’s findings, Cugullere had initially broken into Central Hall intending to steal rare stamps. Upon seeing the unguarded trophy while security guards were on a tea break, he opportunistically stuffed it under his jacket and walked out.
Cugullere never found a buyer for the trophy and subsequently attempted to ransom it through Betchley. His family later confirmed his story, and at his funeral, wreaths were reportedly shaped like the World Cup, a final, clandestine nod to his infamous deed. This revelation brought a partial closure to one part of the trophy’s complex history, though the ultimate fate of the trophy itself after 1983 remains unknown.
The Enduring Mystery: Where is the Real Jules Rimet?
The Jules Rimet Trophy, designed by Abel Lafleur and commissioned by FIFA President Jules Rimet, began its life as a symbol of aspiration and achievement. Its journey through World War II, two dramatic thefts, and a miraculous recovery by a beloved dog reflects the unpredictable nature of history itself. Today, a replica stands as a reminder of Brazil’s three victories, but the original trophy’s whereabouts continue to fuel speculation and conspiracy theories among football fans.
The FIFA website details the history of both the Jules Rimet and its successor, the current World Cup trophy, acknowledging the original’s storied past. FIFA.com offers insights into the lineage of football’s ultimate prize. Whether melted down or tucked away in a private collection, the Jules Rimet Trophy remains a powerful symbol—a ghost of football’s past, forever intertwined with tales of glory, desperation, and the extraordinary loyalty of a dog named Pickles.
