What is the Bundesliga trophy? | OneFootball

The Bundesliga trophy: everything you need to know about the Meisterschale!

The famous Bundesliga Meisterschale was given its first upgrade in 45 years in April 2026. We give you the lowdown on the trophy every club in German football wants to get their hands on, but only 13 have...

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While the Bundesliga’s inaugural season was in 1963/64, the famous silverware dates back even further, with every German champions from 1949 receiving it when it replaced the Viktoria statue that was lost during the turmoil of war.

Designed by art professor Elisabeth Treskow, it features the engraved name of every winner since VfB Leipzig in 1903.

Although referred to as the ‘champions’ shield’ in English, the term 'Meisterschale' literally translates as ‘champions’ bowl’. That and its appearance have often given rise to the nickname of ‘salad bowl’.

Watch: The Meisterschale gets even bigger

As every winner takes up space, an additional silver ring has been added before the end of the 2025/26 campaign to allow more room for future victors. A similar ring, including five tourmaline cabochons encased in gold, was attached in 1981, only adding more value to the five larger stones of the same variety already on show. Before the latest upgrade, the trophy weighed 11 kilograms and was insured for a cool €50,000.

In that respect, it is worth around €20,000 more than the Bundesliga 2 shield, which has a rock crystal as its centre-piece and also includes the names of all the teams who have won it since the first second-tier campaign in 1981/82. That trophy was first introduced for the 2008/09 season and weighs 8.5kg.

In 2024/25, champions Bayern Munich received the trophy from DFL CEOs Dr Marc Lenz and Dr Steffen Merkel. When the title is wrapped up before the final matchday, the presentation is far easier to organise.

Watch: Bayern receive 2024/25 Bundesliga title

In years where the title race goes down to the final day, the DFL employ a second trophy. The original is sent to the ground where the league leaders are playing, with a replica used elsewhere for teams still in the hunt. There is no helicopter on standby ready to whisk the Meisterschale to where it’s needed.

Whichever team get their hands on the original, their celebrations invariably include a Bierdusche, when teammates attempt to cover each other in beer. A few days later, players and fans alike normally converge on a major square in the champions’ city to bask in the glory of their success.

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