What is the World Cup trophy made out of and how much does it weigh?

The victorious side will lift the trophy this afternoon (Picture: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Argentina and France go head-to-head in today’s World Cup final with the winning captain poised to get their hands on the most iconic trophy in sport.

Either Lionel Messi or Hugo Lloris will lift the trophy into the Qatari sky after the match, in what will be the third World Cup victory for either side.

The current World Cup is the second version of the trophy, with the Jules Rimet trophy used between 1930 and 1970.

But what exactly is the trophy made of and how much does it weigh?

Here are the all-important answers to the all-important questions.

What is the World Cup trophy made from?

The trophy is made from 30,875 carats of 18 karat (75 per cent) gold, and features several bands of malachite around the base.

France won the trophy in 2018 (Picture: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

The current trophy is the only one in circulation, but a bronze replica is made for the winning team to keep.

Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet trophy after winning it for the third occasion in 1970.

It was famously stolen from the Brazilian FA headquarters in Rio de Janeiro in 1983, and incredibly, it remains missing to this very day.

How much does the World Cup trophy weigh?

The trophy weighs a total of 6.175kg, of which 4,927g is pure gold.

It has a height of 36.5cm and a width of 12.5cm, and to the surprise of many, is actually hollow inside.

The World Cup is the most iconic trophy in the world (Picture: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)

Who made the World Cup trophy?

Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga was commissioned to make the trophy by FIFA in 1974.

Gazzaniga had beaten off submissions from artists in seven different countries to win the contract, with his design catching the eye of FIFA chiefs.

The Milan native also went on to design the original versions of the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup trophies.

More: World Cup 2022

How much is the World Cup trophy worth?

The gold in the trophy has an estimated value of £204K.

However, experts estimate that the overall value of the World Cup is likely to be around £16million, making it the most valuable trophy in the whole of sport.

MORE : When is the next World Cup and where will it be held?

MORE : Who won the last World Cup?

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