Jarbas Meneghini has already crafted more than 3,000 plaster replicas of the World Cup trophy in his workshop in Rio de Janeiro, helping Brazilian fans keep alive the hope of seeing their national team bring the original cup back from North America in July.
The 58-year-old artisan came up with the business idea after watching then-Brazil captain Dunga lift the trophy in the 1994 World Cup final.
“I saw Dunga holding the trophy and thought I wanted to buy one, but I couldn’t find it anywhere,” Meneghini said. “So I decided to make one myself using the techniques I learned working with metal.”
Today, he manually produces the plaster replicas and exports them to 17 countries across the Americas and Europe. Each piece is made from molds, with some painted gold and others receiving a polished chrome finish.
Working near the famous Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Meneghini also sells the trophies to tourists and local fans.
“I make thousands of trophies using the same mold. Some are painted, while others I make more special with a chrome finish — they stand out more, and you can even see your reflection when you kiss them,” he said.
Production ramps up with each World Cup cycle, driven by renewed hope among fans. Although Brazil is the all-time champion with five titles, the team has not won the tournament since 2002. Now, a new opportunity is approaching.
Meneghini has produced 600 trophies ahead of this year’s tournament, hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States, which kicks off on June 11. That figure is an increase from the 100 to 200 replicas he used to make in previous editions.
“Brazil has gone a long time without winning,” he said. “But hope has returned to our hearts.”
