Every FIFA World Cup brings unforgettable goals, iconic moments, and legendary players. But the one award that every striker dreams of is the Golden Boot — given to the top goal scorer of each tournament. Over the decades, the Award has honored some of the most brilliant forwards in football history.

From the early days of Uruguay in 1930 to the high-scoring battles of Qatar 2022, the race for the Golden Boot has always been intense. In this article, we take a look at every winner from 1930 to 2022 and the number of goals they scored.

🥇 What Is the Golden Boot?

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in a FIFA World Cup tournament. In case of a tie, assists and minutes played are considered. It’s one of the most prestigious individual awards in international football.

📊 Complete List of Golden Boot Winners (1930–2022)

Year	Host Country	Player	Country	Goals Scored
1930	Uruguay	Guillermo Stábile	Argentina	8
1934	Italy	Oldřich Nejedlý	Czechoslovakia	5
1938	France	Leônidas	Brazil	7
1950	Brazil	Ademir	Brazil	8
1954	Switzerland	Sándor Kocsis	Hungary	11
1958	Sweden	Just Fontaine	France	13
1962	Chile	Multiple (6 goals)	VARIOUS	6
1966	England	Eusébio	Portugal	9
1970	Mexico	Gerd Müller	West Germany	10
1974	West Germany	Grzegorz Lato	Poland	7
1978	Argentina	Mario Kempes	Argentina	6
1982	Spain	Paolo Rossi	Italy	6
1986	Mexico	Gary Lineker	England	6
1990	Italy	Salvatore Schillaci	Italy	6
1994	USA	Hristo Stoichkov / Oleg Salenko	Bulgaria / Russia	6
1998	France	Davor Šuker	Croatia	6
2002	South Korea/Japan	Ronaldo	Brazil	8
2006	Germany	Miroslav Klose	Germany	5
2010	South Africa	Thomas Müller	Germany	5
2014	Brazil	James Rodríguez	Colombia	6
2018	Russia	Harry Kane	England	6
2022	Qatar	Kylian Mbappé	France	8

⚽ Legends Who Wore the Golden Boot

Some names on this list have left an unforgettable mark in football. Just Fontaine’s 13-goal record in 1958 remains untouched. Gerd Müller’s lethal finishing in 1970 made him a legend. More recently, Kylian Mbappé’s Golden Boot in 2022 showed how the new generation continues to shine on the biggest stage.

The Golden Boot often becomes a symbol of the player’s dominance during that World Cup. It not only highlights their scoring ability but also places them in football history forever.

📈 Trends Over the Years

Interestingly, the number of goals required to win the Golden Boot has decreased over the decades. While players like Fontaine (13 goals) and Kocsis (11 goals) lit up the early tournaments, modern football is more tactical and defensive, making high tallies rarer.

Another trend is that Golden Boot winners often come from teams that reach the semifinals or finals. This makes sense, as more matches give players more chances to score.

🌍 Will the 2026 Golden Boot Break Records?

With FIFA World Cup 2026 expanding to 48 teams and 104 matches, we might see higher goal totals once again. More games could lead to more scoring chances, and possibly, a new record contender.

Will someone finally beat Just Fontaine’s 13-goal record? The Golden Boot race in 2026 will be one of the most exciting storylines to follow.

💭 Final Thoughts

The Golden Boot is more than just an award — it’s a legacy. From legends like Ronaldo and Müller to new stars like Mbappé, the race for the Golden Boot defines every FIFA World Cup. As we head toward 2026, fans can’t wait to see who will rise and join this elite list.

Keep this list bookmarked, because history is about to be written again!