Yves Rimet, centre, was honoured by FIFA during its centenary celebrations in 2004 ©Getty Images

Yves Rimet, grandson of FIFA World Cup founder Jules Rimet, has died at the age of 90 - less than a week before the 2022 tournament kicks off in Qatar.

He has been hailed as a guardian of the legacy of his grandfather, who had been one of the founder members of FIFA in 1904 and was its longest serving President.

When France staged the 1938 World Cup, Yves, then a child of six, was chosen to perform the draw at the Salon d'Horloge in the Quai d'Orsay in Paris.

Jules Rimet was at the helm of world football from 1921 to 1954 and also served as President of the French Football Federation for 23 years.

Yves set up a prize with French author Renaud le Blond in honour of his grandfather by celebrating the best sports book of the year, named the Jules Rimet Prize.

"It was my grandfather's dearest wish, to marry sport and culture," said Yves Rimet at the time.

"He would have been happy with this initiative."

In 1930 Jules Rimet presented the first World Cup trophy to representatives of the first winners Uruguay ©Getty Images
In 1930 Jules Rimet presented the first World Cup trophy to representatives of the first winners Uruguay ©Getty Images

Organisers of the prize paid their own tribute.

"Yves, grandson of Jules Rimet, juror and unwavering supporter of our prize," the official website said in its tribute.

"Yves, sports lover, former racing driver, businessman with a passion for history who worked for a long time in Brazil where he pointed out with a smile, he never needed to show his passport at the airport." 

The 2022 Jules Rimet Prize is set to be awarded on November 24, organised in partnership with Red Star St Ouen, a club founded by Jules Rimet; and the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation.

Yves Rimet's long-time colleague Le Blond also paid personal tribute.

"Yves was a member of the jury since the first edition, he made his selection with rigour but also benevolence, always attentive to the humanist values,'' Le Blond said.

Rimet had earlier worked with Le Blond on the publication of Le Journal de Jules Rimet, a diary of the founder's experiences at the first World Cup in 1930.

Yves Rimet worked with author Renaud Le Blond to publish the 1930 World Cup diary of Jules Rimet ©First Editions
Yves Rimet worked with author Renaud Le Blond to publish the 1930 World Cup diary of Jules Rimet ©First Editions

The original World Cup trophy had been named in honour of Jules Rimet.

It was awarded from the inaugural World Cup tournament held in Montevideo in 1930 and remained the prize for the World Champions until Brazil won it for the third time in 1970 and were allowed to keep the trophy.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament begins on Sunday (November 20) and world champions France open their defence of the present trophy against Australia on Tuesday (November 22).