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European Golden Shoe

Annual association football award


Annual association football award

FieldValue
nameEuropean Golden Shoe
imageGolden Shoe, Lionel Messi 2012-2013.jpg
captionLionel Messi's 2012–13 Golden Shoe
awarded_forLeading goalscorer from the top division of a European national league
year1968
holderFRA Kylian Mbappé (1st win)
most_winsARG Lionel Messi (6 wins)
  • L'Équipe (1968–1991)
  • European Sports Media (1997–present)

The European Golden Shoe, also known as the European Golden Boot, is an award that is presented each season to the player with the most points in league matches from the top division of a European national league. The trophy is a sculpture of a football boot. The award, originally called Soulier d'Or, French for Golden Shoe, was launched in the 1967–68 season, and was given to the top goalscorer in all European leagues during a season. Since 1997, it has been calculated using a weighting in favour of the highest ranked leagues. Originally presented by L'Équipe newspaper, it has been awarded by the European Sports Media since the 1996–97 season. Lionel Messi has won the award a record six times, more than any other player in history.

History

Between 1968 and 1991, the award was given to the highest goalscorer in any European league. This was regardless of the strength of the league and the number of games in which the player had taken part. During this period Eusébio, Gerd Müller, Dudu Georgescu and Fernando Gomes each won the Golden Shoe twice.

Following a protest from the Cyprus FA, which claimed that a Cypriot player with 40 goals should have received the award (though the official top scorers for the season are both listed with 19 goals), L'Équipe issued no awards between 1991 and 1996.

Since the 1996–97 season, European Sports Media have awarded the Golden Shoe based on a points system that allows players in stronger leagues to win even if they score fewer goals than a player in a weaker league. The weightings are determined by the league's ranking on the UEFA coefficients, which in turn depend on the results of each league's clubs in European competition over the previous five seasons. Goals scored in the top five leagues according to the UEFA coefficients list are multiplied by two, goals scored in the leagues ranked 6 to 22 (previously 9 to 21) are multiplied by 1.5, and goals scored in leagues ranked 22 and below are multiplied by 1. Thus, goals scored in higher-ranked leagues count for more than those scored in weaker leagues. Since this change, there have only been two winners who were not playing in one of the top five leagues (Henrik Larsson, 2000–01 Scottish Premier League and Mario Jardel, 1998–99 Primeira Divisão and 2001–02 Primeira Liga).

Although the Golden Shoe could be shared among multiple players in the past, in the 2019–20 season this rule was changed to give the award to the player with the least minutes played, should there be a tie on points. If tie persists, number of league assists and, then, the fewer penalties scored, would be counted. If the tie ultimately persists, the award would be shared.

Winners

url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/beforegboot.htmltitle=European Topscorers by Seasonwebsite=rsssf.orgpublisher=RSSSFaccess-date=29 April 2024archive-date=31 December 2008archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231122820/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/beforegboot.htmlurl-status=live}}
SeasonPlayerClubLeagueGoalsPoints1967–681968–691969–701970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751975–761976–771977–781978–791979–801980–811981–821982–831983–841984–851985–861986–871987–881988–891989–901990–911992–19961996–971997–981998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–032003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–25
Winners awarded by L'Équipe (1968–1991)
POR Eusébio (1)BenficaPrimeira Liga
BUL Petar ZhekovCSKA SofiaParva Liga
FRG {{sortnameGerdMüllerMuller, Gerd}} (1)Bayern MunichBundesliga
YUGMarseilleLigue 1
FRG {{sortnameGerdMüllerMuller, Gerd}} (2)Bayern MunichBundesliga
POR Eusébio (2)BenficaPrimeira Liga
ARGSporting CPPrimeira Liga
Romania (1)Dinamo BucureștiLiga I
CYPOmonia NicosiaCypriot First Division
Romania (2)Dinamo BucureștiLiga I
AUTRapid WienAustrian Bundesliga
NEDAZEredivisie
BELLierseBelgian First Division
BulgariaBotev PlovdivParva Liga
NEDAjaxEredivisie
POR (1)PortoPrimeira Liga
WALLiverpoolFirst Division
POR (2)PortoPrimeira Liga
NEDAjaxEredivisie
AUT Toni PolsterAustria WienAustrian Bundesliga
TURGalatasaraySüper Lig
RomaniaDinamo BucureștiLiga I
BulgariaCSKA SofiaA PFG
MEX {{sortnameHugoSánchezSanchez, Hugo}}Real MadridLa Liga
YUG {{sortnameDarkoPančevPancev, Darko}}Red Star BelgradeYugoslav First League
Not awarded
Winners awarded by European Sports Media (1997–present)
BRA RonaldoBarcelonaLa Liga
GREVitesseEredivisie
BRA (1)PortoPrimeira Liga
ENGSunderlandPremier League
SWECelticScottish Premier League
BRA (2)Sporting CPPrimeira Liga
NEDDeportivo La CoruñaLa Liga
FRA (1)ArsenalPremier League
FRA (2)ArsenalPremier League
URU (1)VillarrealLa Liga
ITAFiorentinaSerie A
ITARomaSerie A
POR (1)Manchester UnitedPremier League
URU (2)Atlético MadridLa Liga
ARG (1)BarcelonaLa Liga
POR (2)Real MadridLa Liga
ARG (2)BarcelonaLa Liga
ARG (3)BarcelonaLa Liga
URU {{sortnameLuisSuárezSuarez, Luis}} (1)LiverpoolPremier League
POR (3)Real MadridLa Liga
POR (4)Real MadridLa Liga
URU {{sortnameLuisSuárezSuarez, Luis}} (2)BarcelonaLa Liga
ARG (4)BarcelonaLa Liga
ARG (5)BarcelonaLa Liga
ARG (6)BarcelonaLa Liga
ITALazioSerie A
POL (1)Bayern MunichBundesliga
POL (2)Bayern MunichBundesliga
NORManchester CityPremier League
ENGBayern MunichBundesliga
FRAReal MadridLa Liga

;Notes

Multiple winners

Lionel Messi is the only player to win the award six times, all with Barcelona. He also holds the all-time record for goals in a single season with 50 in 2011–12, which accumulated to a record 100 points. Bayern Munich's Gerd Müller was the first player to win the award twice, in 1969–70 and 1971–72. Messi was the first player to win the award three times, and Messi again was the first and so far only player to win it five and six times. Only Messi (2016–17, 2017–18 and 2018–19) has won the award in three consecutive seasons. Thierry Henry (2003–04 and 2004–05), Messi (2011–12 and 2012–13; 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2018–19), Cristiano Ronaldo (2013–14 and 2014–15) and Robert Lewandowski (2020–21 and 2021–22) have won the award in consecutive seasons. Diego Forlán (Villarreal and Atlético Madrid), Luis Suárez (Liverpool and Barcelona), Mário Jardel (Porto and Sporting CP) and Ronaldo (Manchester United and Real Madrid) are the only players to have won the award with multiple clubs. Ronaldo and Suárez are the only players to win the award in two different leagues, with each having won the award while playing in both the Premier League and La Liga.

Players that are still active in Europe are highlighted in boldface.

Players that are still active outside of Europe are highlighted in italics.

PlayerWinsSeasons
ARG **62009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
POR **42007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14 (shared), 2014–15
POR Eusébio21967–68, 1972–73
FRG {{sortnameGerdMüllerMuller, Gerd}}1969–70, 1971–72
ROM1974–75, 1976–77
POR1982–83, 1984–85
BRA1998–99, 2001–02
FRA2003–04, 2004–05 (shared)
URU2004–05 (shared), 2008–09
URU **2013–14 (shared), 2015–16
POL ****2020–21, 2021–22

Winners by club

ClubTotalPlayers
Barcelona83
Bayern Munich53
Real Madrid53
Dinamo București32
Porto32
CSKA Sofia22
Liverpool22
Ajax22
Sporting CP22
Arsenal21
Benfica21
Austria Wien11
Rapid Wien11
Lierse11
Botev Plovdiv11
Omonia Nicosia11
Manchester City11
Manchester United11
Sunderland11
Marseille11
Fiorentina11
Lazio11
Roma11
AZ11
Vitesse11
Celtic11
Atlético Madrid11
Deportivo La Coruña11
Villarreal11
Galatasaray11
Red Star Belgrade11

Winners by nationality

NationalityTotalPlayers
83
72
44
42
33
33
32
32
32
22
22
22
21
21
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11

Winners by league

LeagueTotalPlayers
La Liga168
Premier League76
Primeira Liga74
Bundesliga53
Eredivisie44
Serie A33
Parva Liga33
Liga I32
Austrian Bundesliga22
Ligue 111
Cypriot First Division11
Belgian Pro League11
Scottish Premier Division11
Süper Lig11
Yugoslav First League11

2025–26 season standings

RankPlayerClub(s)League(s)GoalsMinutesFactorPoints
1ENG Harry KaneBayern Munich21{{cite webtitle=Bundesliga Player Stats – Goalspublisher=Bundesliga}}12732
2FRA Kylian MbappéReal Madrid211672242
3NOR Erling HaalandManchester City20{{cite webtitle=Premier League Stats Centreaccess-date=20 October 2025publisher=Premier League}}18492
4BRA Igor ThiagoBrentford161754232
5JAP Ayase UedaFeyenoord1814061.527
6GRE Vangelis PavlidisBenfica1714191.525.5
7GNB Franculino DjúMidtjylland1612221.524
8SRB Aleksandar KataiRed Star Belgrade1511721.522.5
9ESP Ferran TorresBarcelona111089222
10ENG Mason GreenwoodMarseille111387222

Notes

References

References

  1. "Golden Boot: The Quotients Decide It All".
  2. Kelly, Ryan. (25 January 2022). "What is the European Golden Shoe? Winners, scoring & guide to top scorer award". Goal.
  3. "European Golden Shoe".
  4. (13 March 2012). "The European Golden Shoe". FIFA.
  5. (23 July 2020). "What does Cristiano Ronaldo need to secure his fifth Golden Boot?". Marca.
  6. "European Topscorers by Season". [[RSSSF]].
  7. "Golden Boot ("Soulier d'Or") Awards".
  8. (4 August 2006). "Macedonia's Pancev awarded Golden boot....15 years late".
  9. "Leaderboard Goals".
  10. "Goals".
  11. "3F Superliga Stats". Danish Superliga.
  12. "Ligue 1 Player Stats – Goals". Ligue 1.
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