The Golden Boot is awarded to the top goalscorer of each FIFA World Cup. Learn more about the award’s winners throughout history with our helpful guide.
Awarded to the player who has scored the most goals at a World Cup, the Golden Boot is one of the most sought-after individual trophies in the world of football. From Eusébio to Mbappé, the trophy has been lifted by some of the sport’s most iconic names and most dominant goalscorers.
The 2026 World Cup odds to be the top scorer look to be shaping up into a fierce battle, so we’ve decided to take a look back at the previous winners of the Golden Boot under each of its names.
While the biggest prize may go to the World Cup tournament winner, we’re highlighting the individual players who have scored the most in each World Cup.
FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winners over the years
From 1930 to 1978, the player with the most goals at a World Cup was awarded the simple title of ‘Top Goalscorer’. This was renamed the Golden Shoe from the 1982 tournament until 2010, when FIFA eventually adopted the Golden Boot name. Here’s a rundown of each winner in the award’s history.
World Cup edition | Player | Goals scored |
1930 | Guillermo Stábile (URU) | 8 |
1934 | Oldřich Nejedlý (CZE) | 5 |
1938 | Leônidas (BRA) | 7 |
1950 | Ademir (BRA) | 9 |
1954 | Sándor Kocsis (HUN) | 11 |
1958 | Just Fontaine (FRA) | 13 |
1962 | Flórián Albert (HUN), Valentin Ivanov (URS), Garrincha (BRA), Vavá (BRA), Dražan Jerković (YUG) & Leonel Sánchez (CHI) | 4 |
1966 | Eusébio (BRA) | 9 |
1970 | Gerd Müller (GER) | 10 |
1974 | Grzegorz Lato (POL) | 7 |
1978 | Mario Kempes (ARG) | 6 |
1982 | Paolo Rossi (ITA) | 6 |
1986 | Gary Lineker (ENG) | 6 |
1990 | Salvatore Schillaci (ITA) | 6 |
1998 | Oleg Salenko (RUS) & Hristo Stoichkov (BUL) | 6 |
2002 | Ronaldo (BRA) | 8 |
2006 | Miroslav Klose (GER) | 5 |
2010 | Thomas Müller (GER) | 5 |
2014 | James Rodríguez (COL) | 6 |
2018 | Harry Kane (ENG) | 6 |
2022 | Kylian Mbappé (FRA) | 8 |
Which country has the most Golden Boot winners at the World Cup?
The country with the most Golden Boot winners in history is Brazil, who have produced 5 recipients of the award. Their first winner was Leônidas at the 1938 World Cup in France, who scored 7 goals for the side throughout the tournament, helping the team finish third. In 1962, two Brazilian players received the award in the same year (Garrincha and Vavá) as part of a historic 6-way tie. To this day, it’s the year with the most Golden Boot winners in one tournament.
Germany is the country with the second-most winners of the award. In 2006 and 2010, they produced consecutive winners, with Miroslav Klose and Thomas Müller both receiving the award for scoring five goals in each tournament, respectively.
English players have won the Golden Boot twice. The first English Golden Boot winner was Gary Lineker at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he scored 6 goals. More than 30 years later, Harry Kane would earn the country its second win, again scoring 6 goals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This ties England with France, Italy, and Hungary in Golden Boot wins.
Who to bet on for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot?
The best players in the world are getting ready to head to North America for the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup; but which players should you back in the Golden Boot betting? Here are some of the top competitors in the World Cup betting you should be keeping an eye on:
Harry Kane: England’s most recent Golden Boot winner, Harry Kane is known for his stellar finishing ability and his strong leadership. Could he take home a second?
Kylian Mbappé: France’s star player could make history in 2026, as he looks to become the first player to ever win consecutive World Cup Golden Boots.
Erling Haaland: The Manchester City striker has proven himself to be one of the best in the world with his prolific goalscoring, and 2026 will be his first chance to show his skills on the World Cup stage.
Lamine Yamal: With Spain considered one of the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, all eyes will be on Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old sensation, making his World Cup debut.
Vinícius Júnior: A standout player for Real Madrid, this Brazilian forward is known for exceptional pace and dribbling. Could he add to Brazil’s lead in the Golden Boot rankings?
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese footballing legend is likely to face his last chance to claim a World Cup in 2026, so a Golden Boot win would be a poetic finish to his international career.
World Cup Golden Boot FAQs
Do you still have questions about the history of the World Cup Golden Boot? We’ve answered some of the most common ones below:
What is the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot?
Previously known as the Golden Shoe, the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is awarded to the player who has scored the most goals in the tournament.
Who has scored the most goals at the World Cup?
The player with the most goals at the World Cup is the former German forward Miroslav Klose. He scored 16 goals across 4 tournaments.
Has Harry Kane ever won the World Cup Golden Boot?
Yes, Harry Kane’s World Cup career reached new highs in 2018 when he was awarded the Golden Boot. He had scored 6 goals in Russia to claim the trophy.
Has Mbappé won a World Cup Golden Boot?
Yes, Kylian Mbappé is the most recent winner of the Golden Boot, scoring 8 goals in Qatar to secure the 2022 prize.
What is the World Cup Silver Boot?
The Silver Boot is awarded to the player who has scored the second-most goals in an edition of the World Cup. Notable winners include Lionel Messi, Pelé, and Diego Maradona.
