What is the World Cup Golden Boot? A look at the last 7 winners and the favorites for 2026

PHILADELPHIA - Scoring goals on the world’s biggest stage is what defines World Cup greatness, and for a select group of players, it also means winning the Golden Boot. As the 2026 tournament approaches, a new generation of stars will be chasing that honor. But who were the last players to claim it, and what does it actually take to win?

What is the World Cup Golden Boot?

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals during a FIFA World Cup tournament, making it one of the most prestigious individual honors in soccer.

The award has been officially presented since 1982, when it was originally known as the "Golden Shoe" before being renamed the Golden Boot in 2010.

While top scorers have been tracked since the very first World Cup in 1930, earlier players were only recognized retroactively after the award was introduced.

If players are tied on goals, FIFA uses tiebreakers to decide the winner. Since 1994, the first tiebreaker is assists, and if players are still level, the award goes to the player who played fewer minutes — rewarding efficiency as well as scoring ability.

FIFA also awards a Silver Boot and Bronze Boot to the second- and third-highest scorers in each tournament.

The last 7 World Cup Golden Boot winners

2022 (Qatar): Kylian Mbappé (France) – 8 goals

Kylian Mbappé delivered one of the most memorable Golden Boot performances in World Cup history. He entered the final tied with Lionel Messi, then scored a hat trick to finish the tournament with eight goals — the highest total at a World Cup since 2002.

Two of those goals came in regulation, including a penalty and a volley that pulled France level, before he added another penalty in extra time. Although France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout, Mbappé became just the second player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final.

2018 (Russia): Harry Kane (England) – 6 goals

Harry Kane’s Golden Boot run helped lead England to its first World Cup semifinal in decades. 

Kane scored six goals, including a hat trick against Panama in the group stage.

Three of his goals came from penalties, the most by any player at a single World Cup. He became the first England player to win the Golden Boot since Gary Lineker in 1986.

2014 (Brazil): James Rodríguez (Colombia) – 6 goals

James Rodríguez scored six goals in five matches to finish as the tournament’s top scorer, helping Colombia reach the quarterfinals — the best finish in the country’s World Cup history at the time.

He scored in every match Colombia played, including both goals in a 2-0 win over Uruguay in the Round of 16. His first goal in that game — a chest control and volley from outside the box — was later voted the FIFA Puskás Award winner for 2014.

Rodríguez also added two assists during the tournament, highlighting his role as both a scorer and playmaker in Colombia’s attack.

2010 (South Africa): Thomas Müller (Germany) – 5 goals

Thomas Müller scored five goals and added three assists during the tournament, finishing level on goals with Wesley Sneijder, David Villa and Diego Forlán.

He won the Golden Boot on the assist tiebreaker, becoming the first player since the rule was introduced to claim the award that way.

At 20 years old, Müller also won the Best Young Player award as Germany finished third, marking his breakout on the international stage.

The 36-year-old currently plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

2006 (Germany): Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 5 goals

Miroslav Klose scored five goals to lead all players at the 2006 World Cup, including two in Germany’s opening match against Costa Rica.

He found the net in four different matches during the tournament, helping Germany reach the semifinals before finishing third.

Klose later became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 total goals across four tournaments, a record he set in 2014.

2002 (South Korea/Japan): Ronaldo (Brazil) – 8 goals

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (R9) scored eight goals in seven matches to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.

He scored in six of Brazil’s seven games, including both goals in a 2-0 win over Germany in the final.

The performance helped Brazil win its fifth World Cup title and marked Ronaldo’s return to the top level after missing the 1998 final and dealing with serious knee injuries in the years that followed.

1998 (France): Davor Šuker (Croatia) – 6 goals

Davor Šuker led Croatia to a stunning third-place finish in its first World Cup as an independent nation, becoming one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

He scored in six of Croatia’s seven matches, including a crucial goal in the third-place game against the Netherlands. His consistency in front of goal helped power one of the most surprising runs in World Cup history.

Šuker’s Golden Boot performance not only elevated his global profile, but also cemented Croatia’s arrival on the international stage, setting the tone for the country’s future success in world football.

2026 Golden Boot favorites

FIFA has identified 10 players it considers the early favorites — or "forerunners" — to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup.

The list includes some of the biggest names in global soccer, along with a few rising stars:

• Harry Kane (England)
• Kylian Mbappé (France)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• Erling Haaland (Norway)
• Nick Woltemade (Germany)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• Vinicius Jr (Brazil)
• Lamine Yamal (Spain)
• Ousmane Dembélé (France)
• Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)

Many of these players are among the most prolific scorers in international soccer, while others are emerging talents who could break out on the sport’s biggest stage.

FIFA notes that the expanded 2026 tournament will include more matches than ever before, giving top attackers additional opportunities to score — and potentially challenge recent Golden Boot totals.

Why you should care:

The Golden Boot is one of the most prestigious individual honors in soccer, often highlighting the breakout stars of each tournament.

With the 2026 World Cup expanding to more teams and matches, players will have more opportunities than ever to chase the award.

What's next:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With a larger format, the race for the Golden Boot could see higher goal totals than in previous tournaments.