FIFA mocked after honouring World Cup icon with a special gift

FIFA has honoured a World Cup icon with a special gesture for a lifetime of service to international football coverage, but fans have quickly mocked the gift and asked for something better.

Football fanatic and German journalist Hartmut Scherzer's first World Cup tournament saw Garrincha and Pele fire Brazil to greatness, while his Uwe Seeler scored twice for his beloved West Germany.

Four years later, that West Germany side was beaten by a side with Bobby Charlton as skipper, going down as the most iconic moment in English football.

The German man has been going to World Cups since 1962, as the 2026 tournament in North America proved to be his 17th trip around the world to celebrate everything great about football.

At the grand age of 88, the journalist has traversed the globe, attending 33 Tour de France editions, 21 Olympic Games, and 17 World Cups, and has touched down in North America to watch Germany take on Ecuador, all while fulfilling his media obligations.

Hartmut Scherzer gifted replica World Cup by FIFA for lifetime coverage

With an unbroken streak of attendance since Chile 1962, FIFA has honoured his evergreen presence at the World Cup by gifting Scherzer a special gift.

"Ahead of Germany vs Ecuador at NYNJ Stadium, FIFA Media Relations presented Mr. Scherzer with a mini FIFA World Cup Trophy in recognition of this remarkable milestone," FIFA said in a post on X.

The well-traveled journalist posed with a mini replica of the World Cup trophy as he sat with a pen and paper in hand, jotting down his notes from Germany's loss to Ecuador - thankfully for the veteran football expert, Germany eased off the gas having already secured top spot in the group stage, while the South American opponents were fighting for tournament survival.

FIFA Media Relations

However, fans have quickly slammed the token, claiming it's nothing more than a cheap replica.

"Hahaha, got one of these off Temu for $8.99 and attended 0 World Cups," one fan mocked.

A second added, "Come on FIFA… they sell those everywhere. Give him something more unique and iconic."

That was echoed by a third fan who said, "You can buy that same mini World Cup at Walmart. That’s not even the bigger $40 one. FIFA is cheap as hell."

Of course, for Scherzer, he will be happy to have been recognised for his efforts by FIFA and will likely enjoy the sentiment of his gift, rather than its monetary significance.

The World Cup icon recently named his favourite tournaments as the one in 1792 hosted by his home nation and Mexico 1986, citing Maradona's brilliance as something that will stay at the forefront of his mind forever.