The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international soccer, a stage where legends are made and dreams are realized. Among the many accolades awarded during the tournament, the Golden Boot stands out as one of the most prestigious. Awarded to the top goal scorer of each World Cup, the Golden Boot has been won by some of the greatest players in the history of the game. From Guillermo Stábile in 1930 to Kylian Mbappé in 2022, the list of Golden Boot winners is a who’s who of soccer royalty. Let’s take a journey through the history of the Golden Boot and celebrate the players who have etched their names into World Cup folklore.
The History of World Cup Golden Boot Winners
1. Guillermo Stábile (1930)
– Country: Argentina
– Goals: 8
The inaugural World Cup in 1930 saw Guillermo Stábile of Argentina claim the first-ever Golden Boot. Stábile scored an impressive 8 goals in just 4 matches, despite not starting the tournament as Argentina’s first-choice striker. His goals helped Argentina reach the final, where they lost to Uruguay. Stábile’s achievement set the standard for future Golden Boot winners and remains one of the most prolific performances in World Cup history.
2. Oldřich Nejedlý (1934)
– Country: Czechoslovakia
– Goals: 5
In the 1934 World Cup, held in Italy, Oldřich Nejedlý of Czechoslovakia emerged as the top scorer with 5 goals. Nejedlý’s goals were crucial in helping Czechoslovakia reach the final, where they lost to the host nation. His performance remains one of the highlights of Czechoslovakian soccer history.
3. Leônidas (1938)
– Country: Brazil
– Goals: 7
The 1938 World Cup in France saw Leônidas da Silva of Brazil win the Golden Boot with 7 goals. Known as the “Black Diamond,” Leônidas was one of the first players to popularize the bicycle kick. His goals helped Brazil finish third, their best result at the time.
4. Ademir (1950)
– Country: Brazil
– Goals: 9
The 1950 World Cup, held in Brazil, saw Ademir Marques de Menezes claim the Golden Boot with 9 goals. Ademir’s goals were instrumental in Brazil’s run to the final, where they suffered a shocking defeat to Uruguay in the infamous Maracanazo. His tally of 9 goals remains one of the highest in World Cup history.
5. Sándor Kocsis (1954)
– Country: Hungary
– Goals: 11
The 1954 World Cup in Switzerland saw Sándor Kocsis of Hungary win the Golden Boot with an astonishing 11 goals. Kocsis was part of the legendary Mighty Magyars team, which reached the final but lost to West Germany. His 11 goals in just 5 matches remain a record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament.
6. Just Fontaine (1958)
– Country: France
– Goals: 13
The 1958 World Cup in Sweden saw Just Fontaine of France set a record that still stands today. Fontaine scored an incredible 13 goals in just 6 matches, helping France finish third. His record for the most goals in a single World Cup tournament remains unbroken.
7. Flórián Albert, Valentin Ivanov, Garrincha, Vavá, Dražan Jerković, and Leonel Sánchez (1962)
– Goals: 4 each
The 1962 World Cup in Chile saw an unusual six-way tie for the Golden Boot, with each player scoring 4 goals. The winners were:
– Flórián Albert (Hungary)
– Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union)
– Garrincha (Brazil)
– Vavá (Brazil)
– Dražan Jerković (Yugoslavia)
– Leonel Sánchez (Chile)
Garrincha and Vavá’s goals were crucial in helping Brazil win their second consecutive World Cup.
8. Eusébio (1966)
– Country: Portugal
– Goals: 9
The 1966 World Cup in England saw Eusébio of Portugal win the Golden Boot with 9 goals. Known as the “Black Panther,” Eusébio’s goals helped Portugal finish third, their best result in World Cup history. His performance remains one of the most iconic in the tournament’s history.
9. Gerd Müller (1970)
– Country: West Germany
– Goals: 10
The 1970 World Cup in Mexico saw Gerd Müller of West Germany win the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Müller’s goals helped West Germany finish third, and his tally of 10 goals in a single tournament remains one of the highest in World Cup history.
10. Grzegorz Lato (1974)
– Country: Poland
– Goals: 7
The 1974 World Cup in West Germany saw Grzegorz Lato of Poland win the Golden Boot with 7 goals. Lato’s goals helped Poland finish third, their best result in World Cup history. His performance remains one of the highlights of Polish soccer.
11. Mario Kempes (1978)
– Country: Argentina
– Goals: 6
The 1978 World Cup in Argentina saw Mario Kempes win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Kempes’ goals were crucial in helping Argentina win their first World Cup title. His performance in the final, where he scored twice, remains one of the most iconic in World Cup history.
12. Paolo Rossi (1982)
– Country: Italy
– Goals: 6
The 1982 World Cup in Spain saw Paolo Rossi of Italy win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Rossi’s goals were instrumental in helping Italy win their third World Cup title. His performance in the tournament, including a hat-trick against Brazil, remains one of the most memorable in World Cup history.
13. Gary Lineker (1986)
– Country: England
– Goals: 6
The 1986 World Cup in Mexico saw Gary Lineker of England win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Lineker’s goals helped England reach the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by Argentina. His performance remains one of the highlights of English soccer.
14. Salvatore Schillaci (1990)
– Country: Italy
– Goals: 6
The 1990 World Cup in Italy saw Salvatore Schillaci win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Schillaci’s goals helped Italy finish third, and his performance remains one of the most surprising in World Cup history, as he was relatively unknown before the tournament.
15. Hristo Stoichkov and Oleg Salenko (1994)
– Goals: 6 each
The 1994 World Cup in the United States saw a tie for the Golden Boot, with Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria and Oleg Salenko of Russia each scoring 6 goals. Stoichkov’s goals helped Bulgaria finish fourth, their best result in World Cup history, while Salenko set a record by scoring 5 goals in a single match against Cameroon.
16. Davor Šuker (1998)
– Country: Croatia
– Goals: 6
The 1998 World Cup in France saw Davor Šuker of Croatia win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Šuker’s goals helped Croatia finish third in their first World Cup as an independent nation. His performance remains one of the highlights of Croatian soccer.
17. Ronaldo (2002)
– Country: Brazil
– Goals: 8
The 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan saw Ronaldo of Brazil win the Golden Boot with 8 goals. Ronaldo’s goals were crucial in helping Brazil win their fifth World Cup title. His performance in the final, where he scored twice, remains one of the most iconic in World Cup history.
18. Miroslav Klose (2006)
– Country: Germany
– Goals: 5
The 2006 World Cup in Germany saw Miroslav Klose win the Golden Boot with 5 goals. Klose’s goals helped Germany finish third, and he would go on to become the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history.
19. Thomas Müller (2010)
– Country: Germany
– Goals: 5
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa saw Thomas Müller of Germany win the Golden Boot with 5 goals. Müller’s goals helped Germany finish third, and his performance announced him as one of the brightest young talents in world soccer.
20. James Rodríguez (2014)
– Country: Colombia
– Goals: 6
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw James Rodríguez of Colombia win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. James’ goals, including a stunning volley against Uruguay, helped Colombia reach the quarterfinals. His performance remains one of the highlights of the tournament.
21. Harry Kane (2018)
– Country: England
– Goals: 6
The 2018 World Cup in Russia saw Harry Kane of England win the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Kane’s goals helped England reach the semifinals, their best result since 1990. His performance remains one of the highlights of English soccer.
22. Kylian Mbappé (2022)
– Country: France
– Goals: 8
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw Kylian Mbappé of France win the Golden Boot with 8 goals. Mbappé’s goals, including a hat-trick in the final, helped France reach the final, where they lost to Argentina. His performance cemented his status as one of the best players in the world.