Bundesliga Trophy: Meisterschale gets new ring for future champions
As the Bundesliga season approaches its climax, fans eagerly await the moment the latest champions lift the famous Meisterschale. This year, however, there’s something new to look out for.
Germany’s iconic championship trophy has undergone a subtle but significant redesign, one that ensures its legacy can continue for decades to come.
A Bigger Meisterschale for a Growing History
The Meisterschale has officially been expanded, with its outer ring replaced by a larger version to create additional space for future winners.
While the change may not be immediately obvious, it marks an important update to one of football’s most historic trophies. The new ring ensures that the names of upcoming champions can continue to be engraved without limitations.
A trophy rooted in history
First introduced in 1949, the Meisterschale replaced the Viktoria statue, which disappeared during World War II. Designed by Elisabeth Treskow at the Cologne School of Arts and Crafts, the trophy features the names of every German champion dating back to VfB Leipzig in 1903.
Each season, a new champion is added, turning the trophy into a living record of German football history.
Not the first expansion
This isn’t the first time the Meisterschale has had to evolve.
- 1981: A silver ring was added, including five tourmaline cabochons set in gold
- 2009: Additional engraving plates were introduced before the final matchday
- 2025/26: A completely new outer ring replaces the previous one
The latest redesign goes even further than previous updates, reflecting both the trophy’s age and the Bundesliga’s continued growth.
What’s changed in the new design?
The upgrade was carried out by Koch & Bergfeld on behalf of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga. Key changes include:
- A larger outer ring with more engraving capacity
- Five bands instead of three
- All champions since 1982 re-engraved onto the new ring
- Full disassembly and restoration of the trophy
- Updated dimensions: 56 cm diameter and over 11 kg in weight
Most importantly, the expansion creates enough space for approximately 30 more years of champions.
Why this matters
The Meisterschale isn’t just a trophy; it’s a timeline. Every engraved name represents a season, a story, and a place in football history. By expanding the trophy once again, the Bundesliga ensures that future champions will continue to be immortalised alongside legends of the past.
With clubs like Bayern Munich dominating in recent years and rising challengers such as Bayer Leverkusen pushing the competition forward, the need for more space feels inevitable.
What to watch for
When the 2025/26 Bundesliga champions are crowned, keep an eye on the trophy presentation. The Meisterschale may look familiar, but it now carries a fresh chapter in its design, ready to record the next generation of champions.
Tinu Brown
