The European Golden Shoe (also commonly known as the Golden Boot) is an award presented to the leading goalscorer from the top divisions of the European national leagues. The award uses a weighted points system where goals in top-ranked leagues are worth more points.

6 Lionel Messi Most Awards
4 Cristiano Ronaldo Second Most
31 Kylian Mbappé 2025 Leader
50 Messi (2012) Most Goals

Complete List of European Golden Boot Winners

Year Goals Winner Team League
2025 31 Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid Spain La Liga
2024 36 Harry Kane Bayern Munich Germany Bundesliga
2023 36 Erling Haaland Manchester City England Premier League
2022 35 Robert Lewandowski (2) Bayern Munich Germany Bundesliga
2021 41 Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich Germany Bundesliga
2020 36 Ciro Immobile Lazio Italy Serie A
2019 36 Lionel Messi (6) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2018 34 Lionel Messi (5) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2017 37 Lionel Messi (4) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2016 40 Luis Suárez (2) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2015 48 Cristiano Ronaldo (4) Real Madrid Spain La Liga
2014 31 Luis Suárez / Cristiano Ronaldo (3) Liverpool / Real Madrid England Premier League / Spain La Liga
2013 46 Lionel Messi (3) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2012 50 Lionel Messi (2) Barcelona Spain La Liga
2011 40 Cristiano Ronaldo (2) Real Madrid Spain La Liga
2010 34 Lionel Messi Barcelona Spain La Liga
2009 32 Diego Forlán (2) Atlético Madrid Spain La Liga
2008 31 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United England Premier League
2007 26 Francesco Totti Roma Italy Serie A
2006 31 Luca Toni Fiorentina Italy Serie A
2005 25 Thierry Henry (2) / Diego Forlán Arsenal / Villarreal England Premier League / Spain La Liga
2004 30 Thierry Henry Arsenal England Premier League
2003 29 Roy Makaay Deportivo La Coruña Spain La Liga
2002 42 Mário Jardel (2) Sporting CP Portugal Primeira Liga
2001 35 Henrik Larsson Celtic Scottish Premier League
2000 30 Kevin Phillips Sunderland England Premier League
1999 36 Mário Jardel Porto Portugal Primeira Liga
1998 34 Nikos Machlas Vitesse Netherlands Eredivisie
1997 34 Ronaldo Barcelona Spain La Liga
1996 40 Zviad Endeladze Margveti Georgia Umaglesi Liga
1995 39 Arsen Avetisyan Homenetmen Armenia Armenian Premier League
1994 43 David Taylor Porthmadog Wales League of Wales
1993 34 Ally McCoist (2) Rangers Scottish Premier Division
1992 34 Ally McCoist Rangers Scottish Premier Division
1991 34 Darko Pančev Red Star Belgrade Yugoslav First League
1990 38 Hugo Sánchez / Hristo Stoichkov Real Madrid / CSKA Sofia Spain La Liga / Bulgaria A PFG
1989 43 Dorin Mateuț Dinamo București Romania Liga I
1988 39 Tanju Çolak Galatasaray Turkey Süper Lig
1987 39 Toni Polster Austria Wien Austrian Bundesliga
1986 37 Marco van Basten Ajax Netherlands Eredivisie
1985 39 Fernando Gomes (2) Porto Portugal Primeira Liga
1984 32 Ian Rush Liverpool England First Division
1983 36 Fernando Gomes Porto Portugal Primeira Liga
1982 32 Wim Kieft Ajax Netherlands Eredivisie
1981 31 Georgi Slavkov Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Parva Liga
1980 39 Erwin Vandenbergh Lierse Belgium Belgian First Division
1979 34 Kees Kist AZ Netherlands Eredivisie
1978 41 Hans Krankl Rapid Wien Austria Austrian Bundesliga
1977 47 Dudu Georgescu (2) Dinamo București Romania Liga I
1976 39 Sotiris Kaiafas Omonia Nicosia Cyprus Cypriot First Division
1975 33 Dudu Georgescu Dinamo București Romania Liga I
1974 46 Héctor Yazalde Sporting CP Portugal Primeira Liga
1973 40 Eusébio (2) Benfica Portugal Primeira Liga
1972 40 Gerd Müller (2) Bayern Munich Germany Bundesliga
1971 44 Josip Skoblar Marseille France Ligue 1
1970 38 Gerd Müller Bayern Munich Germany Bundesliga
1969 36 Petar Zhekov CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Parva Liga
1968 42 Eusébio Benfica Portugal Primeira Liga

Note on 2025 Season

Kylian Mbappé has now won the European Golden Boot for the first time in his career, a feat he has achieved in only his Real Madrid season debut. He is now the first Real Madrid player since Cristiano Ronaldo to win the trophy.

History

Between 1968 and 1991, the award was given by L'Équipe to the highest goalscorer in any European league. Between 1992 and 1996 there were no official awards given to the top goal scorers, but the leading goal scorers for those years have since been recognized. Since the 1996–97 season, the award, given by European Sports Media, has used a weighted points system.

Point System

The winner is not simply the player with the most goals in the season. There is a weighting system where the goals scored in the top-ranked leagues are worth more. Players from the five highest-ranked leagues according to UEFA (based on results of each league's clubs in European competition over the previous five seasons) get 2 points per scored goal, leagues ranked 6-22 get 1.5 points per goal, and the remaining leagues get 1 point per goal. The top five-ranked leagues in 2025 are Germany, Spain, England, Italy, and France. The winners usually come from the top-ranked leagues.

Top 5 Leagues (2 points)

Germany, Spain, England, Italy, France

Leagues 6-22 (1.5 points)

Including the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Turkey

Other Leagues (1 point)

All remaining European leagues

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Golden Boots does Messi have?

Lionel Messi has won the European Golden Boot 6 times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), more than any other player in history.

How many Golden Boots does Ronaldo have?

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the European Golden Boot 4 times (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015).

Who has won the most European Golden Boots?

Lionel Messi holds the record with 6 European Golden Boot awards, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 4 wins. No other player has won more than 2 awards in the history of the competition.

What's the difference between the Golden Boot and the Golden Shoe?

There is no difference - the European Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe are the same award. Both names refer to the trophy given to Europe's top goalscorer each season. The terms are used interchangeably in different countries and media outlets.

Who won the Golden Boot race in 2025?

Kylian Mbappé claimed the trophy of the European Golden Boot race with 31 goals for Real Madrid in La Liga.

Which leagues count for the Golden Boot?

All top divisions of European national leagues count for the Golden Boot, but with different point values. The top 5 leagues (currently Germany, Spain, England, Italy, France) award 2 points per goal, leagues 6-22 give 1.5 points, and all other European leagues provide 1 point per goal.

References

  1. European Sports Media. (2025). "Official European Golden Shoe Rankings." ESM Official Website.
  2. UEFA. (2025). "Country Coefficients and League Rankings." UEFA.com.
  3. L'Équipe. (2024). "Histoire du Soulier d'Or Européen." L'Équipe Sport Database.
  4. Marca. (2025). "Golden Boot Race 2024-25 Season." Marca English Edition.
  5. Sky Sports. (2024). "European Golden Shoe: Complete Winners List." Sky Sports Football.
  6. The Guardian. (2023). "How the European Golden Shoe Works." The Guardian Football.
  7. Football Association. (2024). "Statistical Analysis of Golden Boot Winners." FA Technical Report.

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