The CONMEBOL Copa América™ Trophy: History, Weight and Who Designed It
Learn about the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy: when it was created, who designed it, how much it weighs, what it’s made of and how it was restored.
- The original trophy was crafted in 1917 by Casa Escasany, a historic jewelry house in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- It is a piece of silverware made of 950 sterling silver and was purchased for 3,000 Swiss francs.
- After more than 20 years, the original trophy was restored and returned to the champions at the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™.
Created more than a century ago, the trophy lifted by the champions is one of the great symbols of South American soccer. Its origins date back to 1917, and it underwent several modifications before returning to its original version in 2024.
Some images transcend generations. Captains lifting it, teams celebrating around it, and champions leaving their names engraved forever.
The CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy is one of the great symbols of the oldest international soccer competition in the world, and its history dates back almost to the tournament's beginnings.
The first edition was played in 1916, but it took another year for the trophy that would become one of the most recognizable in world soccer to make its debut.
When was the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy created?
The original trophy was crafted in 1917 to be presented for the first time during that year's South American Championship, the name then used for what is now the CONMEBOL Copa América™.
The piece was made by Casa Escasany, a jewelry house based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Its creation came one year after the competition's first edition, held in Argentina in 1916 and won by Uruguay.
Who designed the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy?
The history of the trophy has a particular detail. Casa Escasany was responsible for crafting the original design and the finished piece, but the trophy's base was imported from France by the jewelry house. The piece was purchased for 3,000 Swiss francs and was subsequently worked on in Buenos Aires until it took on the design with which it would begin its journey through South American soccer. From then on, the trophy became part of more than a century of the competition's history.
What is the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy made of?
The original CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy is a piece of silverware made of 950 sterling silver. Over the decades, additional elements were incorporated into its structure to make room for the names of new champions. In 1979, a wooden base was added, allowing a second row of plaques to be included with the names of the winners. In 1995, the competition's growing history required another modification: a third row was added to continue recording the champion teams.
How much does the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy weigh?
With its structure and base, the historic trophy currently weighs approximately 11.85 kilograms. Following the modifications made throughout its history, it is heavier than the original piece.
Among its main features are:
- CONMEBOL Copa América™ Trophy
- Created: 1917
- Crafted by: Casa Escasany, Buenos Aires
- Main material: 950 sterling silver
- Original price: 3,000 Swiss francs
- Current weight: More than 11.85 kg
- Approximate height: 75 cm
- Approximate diameter: 30 cm
- Wooden base: Added and expanded since 1979
The Copa América champions' plaques
One of the trophy's most recognizable features is its base. It contains the plaques recording the champions of the competition's different editions, turning the trophy itself into a physical journey through Copa América history. The first expansion of the base came in 1979, when space was added for a second row of champions. In 1995, a third row was added. Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Chile are the eight national teams to have won the competition throughout its history. Argentina currently leads the all-time standings with 16 titles.
Why was the Copa América trophy restored?
The original trophy was presented to the champions through the 2001 edition, won by Colombia. From 2004 through 2021, the champions received different replicas of the Cup. More than two decades after it was last presented, the historic piece underwent a restoration process aimed at bringing back the original trophy and returning it to the heart of the competition. The work made it possible for the Cup created in 1917 to be ready once again to be lifted by a champion in 2024.
The original trophy's return in 2024
On July 14, 2024, the original trophy once again took center stage at a CONMEBOL Copa América™ Final. Following its restoration, it was presented at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for the showdown between Argentina and Colombia. Argentina won the Final, becoming the national team to lift the historic trophy again after more than 20 years. The title also marked Argentina's 16th CONMEBOL Copa América™ championship, putting the team alone at the top of the competition's all-time winners list.
More than a century of history in one trophy
Since 1917, the trophy has accompanied much of the evolution of South American soccer. Its base has changed, new plaques have been added, it was temporarily replaced by replicas, and it underwent a restoration process, but it has retained the design that made it a symbol of the competition. More than 100 years after its creation, the original CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy continues to write its history with every new champion.
