The Mystery of the Jules Rimet Trophy: Lost Twice, Never Found

The original FIFA World Cup trophy, known as the Jules Rimet Trophy, has a history of being lost and stolen, with its ultimate fate remaining an unsolved mystery. The trophy was first named 'Victory' or 'Cup of the World' upon its introduction in 1930, and later renamed in honor of FIFA President Jules Rimet in 1946. During World War II, it was secretly hidden in a shoebox under a bed by an Italian football official to prevent it from falling into Nazi hands, surviving the war unharmed.

In 1966, the trophy disappeared from a public exhibition in London just four months before the World Cup. After a week-long search, it was miraculously found by a man named David Corbett, whose dog, Pickles, sniffed out the newspaper-wrapped trophy near a parked car. Pickles became an instant national hero in England. However, the trophy was stolen for a second time on December 19, 1983, from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters after Brazil became the first nation to win it permanently by securing their third World Cup title in 1970. Despite four individuals being convicted in connection with the 1983 theft, the trophy has never been recovered, leading to speculation that it may have been melted down, though no definitive proof exists.