May 15, 2026
Jarbas Meneghini has made more than 3,000 plaster replicas of the soccer World Cup trophy from his workshop in Rio de Janeiro, to help fans root for Brazil to bring home the golden original from North America in July.
The 58-year-old craftsman had the idea for his business after he saw then-Brazil captain Dunga lift the trophy at the World Cup final in 1994.
"I saw Dunga holding the trophy and said I would buy one, but you can't find it anywhere," Meneghini said. "So I decided to make it myself using the technical skills I learned doing metalwork."
He now produces plaster replicas by hand, exporting them to 17 countries across the Americas and Europe. The replicas are produced from molds, with some painted in gold and others given a polished chrome finish.
