The World Cup Golden Boot is awarded to the top goal scorer of each tournament, with past winners including Guillermo Stabile and Just Fontaine. The next winner will be determined by July 19.
Key points
Golden Boot awarded to top goal scorer of World Cup
Scoring goals at the World Cup remains one of the most eagerly awaited moments in a footballer’s career, and come June 11, some of the best strikers will get a chance to add their names to the goal-scoring charts for the tournament.
The forwards with the most goals by July 19 will walk away with the Golden Boot award and find themselves in the company of the sport’s all-time greats.
Here is a list of its Golden Boot winners over the years:
1930: Guillermo Stabile (Argentina) – eight goals
1934: Oldrich Nejedly (Czech Republic) – five goals
1938: Leonidas (Brazil) – seven goals
1950: Ademir (Brazil) – eight goals
1954: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) – 11 goals
1958: Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals
1962: Florian Albert (Hungary), Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union), Garrincha (Brazil), Vava (Brazil), Leonel Sanchez (Chile), Drazan Jerkovoch (Yugoslavia) – four goals
1966: Eusebio (Portugal) – nine goals
1970: Gerd Muller (Germany) – 10 goals
1974: Grzegorz Lato (Poland) – seven goals
1978: Mario Kempes (Argentina) – six goals
Harry Kane in action.
England’s Harry Kane was awarded the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and was the joint-top scorer at Euro 2024 in Germany [File: Albert Gea/Reuters]
1982: Paolo Rossi (Italy) – six goals
1986: Gary Lineker (England) – six goals
1990: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) – six goals
1994: Oleg Salenko (Russia), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) – six goals
1998: Davor Suker (Croatia) – six goals
2002: Ronaldo (Brazil) – eight goals
2006: Miroslav Klose (Germany) – five goals
2010: Thomas Muller (Germany) – five goals
Q&A
Who won the Golden Boot in the 1958 World Cup?
Just Fontaine won the Golden Boot in the 1958 World Cup with 13 goals.
What is the criteria for winning the World Cup Golden Boot?
The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most goals scored in the World Cup tournament.
Which players have scored the most goals in World Cup history?
The players with the most goals in World Cup history include Just Fontaine with 13 goals and Sandor Kocsis with 11 goals.
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2014: James Rodríguez (Colombia) – six goals
2018: Harry Kane (England) – six goals
2022: Kylian Mbappe (France) – eight goals
France's Kylian Mbappe holds the Golden Boot award for top goalscorer of the tournament after the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Mbappe’s eight goals at the Qatar World Cup was the equal-highest since 1970 [File: Martin Meissner/AP]