Quick Summary
Table of Contents
The FIFA Golden Boot is one of football’s most prestigious individual awards, presented to the top goal scorer of every FIFA World Cup. Since the inaugural tournament 1930, this accolade has celebrated legendary Golden Boot winners whose scoring feats have left an indelible mark on football history. Iconic players such as Just Fontaine, who scored a record 13 goals in 1958, Gerd Müller, Ronaldo Nazário, and modern sensation Kylian Mbappé have all etched their names among the greatest golden Boot winners, showcasing their extraordinary talent and goal-scoring prowess on the world stage.
In the 2022 World Cup, Mbappé emerged as the top scorer, netting eight goals and showcasing his extraordinary talent on the global stage. Remarkably, no player has ever won the FIFA Golden Boot twice, highlighting the tournament’s fierce competition and unpredictable nature. From the Uruguayan tournament of 1930, where top scorers captured worldwide attention, to today’s thrilling World Cups, winning the Golden Boot remains a symbol of footballing excellence and global recognition.
The organization hosts the much-awaited FIFA World Cup every four years. This esteemed occasion honors remarkable athletes with several awards and displays extraordinary skill.
The FIFA Golden Boot stands as a prestigious accolade bestowed upon the top scorer of each World Cup tournament. Unlike the Golden Ball, which lauds the tournament’s most outstanding player, the Golden Boot is solely dedicated to goal-scoring prowess.
Since its inception in 1982, no player has secured the top scorer title more than once. Harry Kane of England claimed the honor in 2018, while in 2022, Kylian Mbappé clinched it with eight goals, edging past Lionel Messi. Among the distinguished winners, Italy, England, and Germany each boast two Golden Boots. This coveted award is a testament to the enduring legacy of those who excel in finding the net on football’s grandest stage.
The FIFA Golden Ball Award is a prestigious accolade presented to the standout player of the FIFA World Cup tournament. Unlike the Golden Boot, which recognizes the tournament’s top scorer, the Golden Ball honors the player who demonstrates exceptional skill, leadership, and impact on the field throughout the competition.
Introduced in 1982, the Golden Ball was decided by journalists and experts who closely observed and analyzed players’ performances during the tournament. This panel considers various factors such as goals scored, assists provided, defensive contributions, leadership qualities, and overall influence on the team’s performance. Over the years, the FIFA Golden Ball has been awarded to some of the most iconic figures in football history, including Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, and Lionel Messi.
Kylian Mbappé, a professional footballer from France, represents both the French national team and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Renowned for his speed, intelligence, and powerful finishing, Mbappé is considered one of the top players in the world.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mbappé won the Golden Boot, scoring a sensational hat-trick against Argentina. Despite Lionel Messi matching him with seven goals, the match ended in a draw and was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, with Argentina winning 4–2. Mbappé’s hat-trick was a game-changing performance that earned him the Golden Boot and solidified his status as one of France’s most excellent forwards. His incredible contribution helped France secure second place in the tournament, showcasing his exceptional talent and importance to the national side.
Kylian Mbappé opened France’s 2022 World Cup campaign by scoring their first goal against Australia. He delivered a stellar performance in the second match against Denmark with three goals and one assist. During the knockout stages, he scored decisive goals in extra time, including a hat-trick against Argentina in the final.
His goals in the final came in the 80th, 81st, and 118th minutes. While his first and third goals were penalties, his second goal, the equalizer for France, was a stunning strike from outside the box. With eight goals and two assists in the tournament, Mbappé secured the Golden Boot. He also became the fifth player to score in multiple World Cup finals and only the second to score in consecutive finals, cementing his place among the sport’s elite and solidifying his legacy as one of France’s most outstanding forwards.
Thе Goldеn Boot 2022 speculations wеrе mounted with Mbappе and Mеssi, bеing thе main contеndеrs for thе 2022 FIFA World Cup finals. Let’s look at the Golden Boot winners list from 1930 to 2022.
| S.No. | FIFA Golden Boot winners list Player name and Team Short from | Venue and Year | Performance for Award |
| 1. | Guillermo Stabile (Team Argentina) | Uruguay 1930 | Eight Goals |
| 2. | Oldrich Nejedly (Team Czech Republic) | Italy 1934 | Five Goals |
| 3. | Leonidas (Team Brazil) | France 1938 | Seven Goals |
| 4. | Ademir (Team Brazil) | Brazil 1950 | Eight Goals |
| 5. | Sandor Kocsis (Team Hungary) | Switzerland 1954 | Eleven Goals |
| 6. | Just Fontaine (Team France) | Sweden 1958 | Thirteen Goals |
| 7. | Florian Albert (Team Hungary); Valentin Ivanov (Team Soviet Union); Garrincha (Team Brazil); Vava (Team Brazil); Drazan Jerkovic (Team Yugoslavia); Leonel Sanchez (Team Chile) | Chile 1962 | Four Goals |
| 8. | Eusebio (Team Portugal) | England 1966 | Nine Goals |
| 9. | Gerd Muller (Team Germany) | Mexico 1970 | Ten Goals |
| 10. | Grzegorz Lato (Team Poland) | West Germany 1974 | Seven Goals |
| 11. | Mario Kempes (Team Argentina) | Argentina 1978 | Six Goals |
| 12. | Paolo Rossi (Team Italy) | Spain 1982 | Six Goals |
| 13. | Gary Lineker (Team England) | Mexico 1986 | Six Goals |
| 14. | Salvatore Schillaci (Team Italy) | Italy 1990 | Six Goals |
| 15. | Oleg Salenko (Team Russia); Hristo Stoichkov (Team Bulgaria) | USA 1994 | Six Goals |
| 16. | Davor Suker (Team Croatia) | France 1998 | Six Goals |
| 17. | Ronaldo (Team Brazil) | South Korea/Japan 2002 | Eight Goals |
| 18. | Miroslav Klose (Team Germany) | Germany 2006 | Five Goals |
| 19. | Thomas Muller (Team Germany) | South Africa 2010 | Five Goals |
| 20. | James Rodríguez (Team Colombia) | Brazil 2014 | Six Goals |
| 21. | Harry Kane (Team England) | Russia 2018 | Six Goals |
| 22. | Kylian Mbappe (Team France) | Qatar 2022 | Eight Goals |
The FIFA World Cup Golden Boot has seen several players achieve the honor of being the top goal scorer in the tournament multiple times. Here are the notable players who have won the Golden Boot more than once:
While not entirely crafted from solid gold, the FIFA Golden Boot holds significant value. As of 2018, the gold content within the trophy is worth around $161,000 (£131,800). However, its overall value, considering intricate design and symbolism, is estimated at an impressive $20 million (£16.4 million). In the 2022 World Cup, Kylian Mbappe of France secured the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals, earning him the top scorer title in the tournament. The World Cup trophy is fashioned from 18-karat gold, a precious material valued at approximately $42 per gram.
In the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan, Ronaldo played a pivotal role for the Brazilian national team. He displayed exceptional skill and goal-scoring prowess throughout the tournament, ultimately securing the FIFA Golden Boot award for being the tournament’s top scorer. Ronaldo’s impressive tally of 8 goals helped Brazil secure their fifth World Cup title, as they defeated Germany 2-0 in the final match in Yokohama, Japan. This triumph marked a significant milestone in Ronaldo’s career and solidified his status as one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
Lionel Messi has never won the FIFA Golden Boot award, which is given to the top goal scorer in the FIFA World Cup tournament. However, Messi has won several other FIFA awards throughout his career. One of the most prestigious awards he has won is the FIFA Ballon d’Or, which is given annually to the best player in the world. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or multiple times, including in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.
Lionel Messi has won the European Golden Shoe (often referred to as the Golden Boot) seven times. Messi has also received several other FIFA awards. These include the FIFA World Player of the Year (which merged with the Ballon d’Or from 2010 to 2015), the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball (awarded to the best player in the FIFA Club World Cup), and the FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball (given to the top player in the FIFA U-20 World Cup). Messi secured the latter award in 2005.
Read More:-
The FIFA Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer of every FIFA World Cup, recognizing the player who scores the most goals during the tournament. Introduced in the inaugural World Cup of 1930, the award celebrates offensive excellence and a player’s crucial contribution to their team’s success.
Over the years, the FIFA Golden Boot has recognized some of the greatest goal scorers in World Cup history. These players have left a lasting mark with their extraordinary performances on football’s biggest stage.
Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup tournament, netting 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup held in Sweden.
Müller won the Golden Boot in the 1970 World Cup, scoring 10 goals. He was a prolific striker known for his clinical finishing.
Lineker won the Golden Boot in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, scoring 6 goals. He was known for his goal-scoring prowess and efficiency in front of the net.
Müller won the Golden Boot in the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa, scoring 5 goals. He was instrumental in Germany’s performance, showcasing his versatility and goal-scoring ability.
Rodríguez scored six goals and won the Golden Boot in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His performances captured global attention and earned him widespread acclaim.
The Golden Boot, also known as the European Golden Shoe, is one of football’s most prestigious individual awards, presented annually to the top goal scorer in major European domestic leagues. It recognizes players who demonstrate exceptional consistency, skill, and scoring ability throughout a season. Legendary footballers such as Lionel Messi, a six-time winner, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won it four times, have set the benchmark for goal-scoring excellence. Their achievements have inspired countless young players worldwide and cemented their status as two of the most excellent forwards in football history.
In the 2024–25 season, Kylian Mbappé claimed the European Golden Shoe with an impressive 31 goals for Real Madrid. Mohamed Salah secured the Premier League Golden Boot by scoring 29 goals for Liverpool. The award highlights individual brilliance and celebrates the player’s ability to perform consistently at the highest level, making the Golden Boot a symbol of scoring mastery and footballing excellence across Europe.
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most European Golden Boot awards, having won it six times as the top scorer in European leagues. Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second, with four Golden Boots, highlighting the incredible goal-scoring rivalry between these two football legends over the years.
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most European Golden Shoe awards, having won it six times more than any other player in football history. His remarkable consistency and goal-scoring prowess across European leagues have set him apart, solidifying his legacy as one of the most superb forwards ever.
Kylian Mbappé claimed his first European Golden Shoe in the 2024–25 season, scoring 31 goals in La Liga to earn 62 UEFA points. He finished ahead of Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres (58.5 points) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (58 points), highlighting his remarkable scoring consistency and dominance in European football.
Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded the Golden Boot as the top goal scorer of the 2024–25 season. This prestigious accolade celebrates his outstanding scoring performance, marking another milestone in his illustrious career and reaffirming his status as one of the most superb forwards in football history.
The European Golden Boot, also known as the European Golden Shoe, is awarded yearly to the top goal scorer in Europe’s premier league competitions. Introduced in 1968, the award uses a points-based system to rank players and recognizes consistent scoring excellence across the continent’s top football leagues.
Authored by, Muskan Gupta
Content Curator
Muskan believes learning should feel like an adventure, not a chore. With years of experience in content creation and strategy, she specializes in educational topics, online earning opportunities, and general knowledge. She enjoys sharing her insights through blogs and articles that inform and inspire her readers. When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her hopping between bookstores and bakeries, always in search of her next favorite read or treat.
Editor's Recommendations
Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
