Despite strict regulations limiting the handling of the £17.7 million World Cup trophy to tournament winners and heads of state, celebrities Rihanna and Salt Bae famously bypassed security to touch the icon.
FIFA protocols dictate that only World Cup winners and heads of state may touch the solid gold trophy.
However, pop star Rihanna famously broke this rule during Germany’s 2014 celebrations, later boasting, “I touched the cup, held the cup, kissed the cup, took a selfie with the cup!!!”
Similarly, chef Salt Bae sparked outrage by gatecrashing Argentina’s 2022 victory pitch to handle the prize.
The breaches highlight inconsistencies in FIFA’s enforcement, especially after manager Lionel Scaloni was mistakenly forced to wear gloves at the 2026 draw.
While Rihanna faced no public consequences, Salt Bae eventually apologized for the “accident” and “mistake.”
In 2025, the chef pledged his future compliance to the rules, stating, “Next World Cup, I’ll never touch the World Cup.”