The European Golden Shoe, also known as the European Golden Boot, is an award that is presented each season to the leading goalscorer 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 most often, six times, all while playing for Barcelona.

European Golden Shoe
Lionel Messi's 2012–13 Golden Shoe
Awarded forLeading goalscorer from the top division of a European national league
Presented byL'Équipe (1968–1991) European Sports Media (1997–present)
First awarded1968
Currently held byEngland Harry Kane (1st win)
Most awardsArgentina Lionel Messi (6 awards)

History

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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.[1]

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.[citation needed]

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[when?] 9 to 21) are multiplied by 1.5, and goals scored in leagues ranked 22 and below are multiplied by 1.[2] Thus, goals scored in higher-ranked leagues count for more than those scored in weaker leagues.[3] 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.[4] 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

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Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player had won the award at that time (for players with more than one award)
^ Denotes player's club won league that season
Player also top goalscorer in all European leagues (since 1996–97)[5]
European Golden Shoe winners[6]
Season Player Club League Goals Points
Winners awarded by L'Équipe (1968–1991)
1967–68   Eusébio (1) Benfica ^   Primeira Liga 42
1968–69   Petar Zhekov CSKA Sofia ^   Parva Liga 36
1969–70   Gerd Müller (1) Bayern Munich   Bundesliga 38
1970–71   Josip Skoblar Marseille ^   Ligue 1 44
1971–72   Gerd Müller (2) Bayern Munich ^   Bundesliga 40
1972–73   Eusébio (2) Benfica ^   Primeira Liga 40
1973–74   Héctor Yazalde Sporting CP ^   Primeira Liga 46
1974–75   Dudu Georgescu (1) Dinamo București ^   Liga I 33
1975–76   Sotiris Kaiafas Omonia Nicosia ^   Cypriot First Division 39
1976–77   Dudu Georgescu (2) Dinamo București ^   Liga I 47
1977–78   Hans Krankl Rapid Wien   Austrian Bundesliga 41
1978–79   Kees Kist AZ   Eredivisie 34
1979–80   Erwin Vandenbergh Lierse   Belgian First Division 39
1980–81   Georgi Slavkov Botev Plovdiv   Parva Liga 31
1981–82   Wim Kieft Ajax ^   Eredivisie 32
1982–83   Fernando Gomes (1) Porto   Primeira Liga 36
1983–84   Ian Rush Liverpool ^   First Division 32
1984–85   Fernando Gomes (2) Porto ^   Primeira Liga 39
1985–86   Marco van Basten Ajax   Eredivisie 37
1986–87   Toni Polster[a] Austria Wien   Austrian Bundesliga 39
1987–88   Tanju Çolak Galatasaray ^   Süper Lig 39
1988–89   Dorin Mateuț Dinamo București   Liga I 43
1989–90   Hristo Stoichkov CSKA Sofia ^   A PFG 38
  Hugo Sánchez Real Madrid ^   La Liga
1990–91[b]   Darko Pančev Red Star Belgrade ^   Yugoslav First League 34
Winners were initially not awarded (1992–1996)
1991–92   Ally McCoist (1) Rangers ^   Scottish Premier Division 34
1992–93   Ally McCoist (2) Rangers ^   Scottish Premier Division 34
1993–94   David Taylor Porthmadog   League of Wales 43
1994–95   Arsen Avetisyan Homenetmen   Armenian Premier League 39
1995–96   Zviad Endeladze Margveti   Umaglesi Liga 40
Winners awarded by European Sports Media (1997–present)
1996–97   Ronaldo Barcelona   La Liga 34 68
1997–98   Nikos Machlas Vitesse   Eredivisie 34 68
1998–99   Mário Jardel (1) Porto   Primeira Liga 36 72
1999–2000   Kevin Phillips Sunderland   Premier League 30 60
2000–01   Henrik Larsson Celtic ^   Scottish Premier League 35 52.5
2001–02   Mário Jardel (2) Sporting CP ^   Primeira Liga 42 63
2002–03   Roy Makaay Deportivo La Coruña   La Liga 29 58
2003–04   Thierry Henry (1) Arsenal ^   Premier League 30 60
2004–05   Thierry Henry (2) Arsenal   Premier League 25 50
  Diego Forlán (1) Villarreal   La Liga
2005–06   Luca Toni Fiorentina   Serie A 31 62
2006–07   Francesco Totti Roma   Serie A 26 52
2007–08   Cristiano Ronaldo (1) Manchester United ^   Premier League 31 62
2008–09   Diego Forlán (2) Atlético Madrid   La Liga 32 64
2009–10   Lionel Messi (1) Barcelona ^   La Liga 34 68
2010–11   Cristiano Ronaldo (2) Real Madrid   La Liga 40 80
2011–12   Lionel Messi (2) Barcelona   La Liga 50 100
2012–13   Lionel Messi (3) Barcelona ^   La Liga 46 92
2013–14   Luis Suárez (1) Liverpool   Premier League 31 62
  Cristiano Ronaldo (3) Real Madrid   La Liga
2014–15   Cristiano Ronaldo (4) Real Madrid   La Liga 48 96
2015–16   Luis Suárez (2) Barcelona ^   La Liga 40 80
2016–17   Lionel Messi (4) Barcelona   La Liga 37 74
2017–18   Lionel Messi (5) Barcelona ^   La Liga 34 68
2018–19   Lionel Messi (6) Barcelona ^   La Liga 36 72
2019–20   Ciro Immobile Lazio   Serie A 36 72
2020–21   Robert Lewandowski (1) Bayern Munich ^   Bundesliga 41 82
2021–22   Robert Lewandowski (2) Bayern Munich ^   Bundesliga 35 70
2022–23   Erling Haaland Manchester City ^   Premier League 36 72
2023–24   Harry Kane Bayern Munich   Bundesliga 36 72
Notes
  1. ^ Original 1986–87 season winner Rodion Cămătaru (with 44 goals) was disqualified later and the trophy was awarded to Polster in 1990. However, Cămătaru was allowed to keep his copy of the trophy.[6]
  2. ^ Darko Pančev got his prize for 1990–91 season later, only in 2006,[7] following a protest from Cyprus where a player supposedly scored 40 goals (though the official topscorers for the season, Suad Beširević and Panayiotis Xiourouppas, are listed with 19 goals each). Due to this affair, France Football decided to make the competition unofficial.[6]

Multiple winners

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Lionel Messi is the all-time record winner of the award, having won it six times overall. He also holds the record for most goals and most points in a single season—50 and 100 respectively, in 2011–12.
 
Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the all-time list, having won four Golden Shoes, as well as two consecutively. His record is 48 goals and 96 points respectively, in 2014–15.
 
Gerd Müller was the first player to win the award twice, in 1970 and 1972.
 
Eusébio was the first winner of the prize in 1968.

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), Robert Lewandowski (2020–21 and 2021–22) and Ally McCoist (1991–92 and 1992–93) 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.

Multiple European Golden Shoe winners
Player Wins Seasons
  Lionel Messi 6 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
  Cristiano Ronaldo 4 2007–08, 2010–11, 2013–14 (shared), 2014–15
  Eusébio 2 1967–68, 1972–73
  Gerd Müller 1969–70, 1971–72
  Dudu Georgescu 1974–75, 1976–77
  Fernando Gomes 1982–83, 1984–85
  Ally McCoist 1991–92, 1992–93
  Mário Jardel 1998–99, 2001–02
  Thierry Henry 2003–04, 2004–05 (shared)
  Diego Forlán 2004–05 (shared), 2008–09
  Luis Suárez 2013–14 (shared), 2015–16
  Robert Lewandowski 2020–21, 2021–22

Winners by club

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European Golden Shoe winners by club
Club Total Players
  Barcelona 8 3
  Bayern Munich 5 3
  Real Madrid 4 2
  Dinamo București 3 2
  Porto 3 2
  CSKA Sofia 2 2
  Liverpool 2 2
  Ajax 2 2
  Sporting CP 2 2
  Arsenal 2 1
  Benfica 2 1
  Rangers 2 1
  Homenetmen 1 1
  Austria Wien 1 1
  Rapid Wien 1 1
  Lierse 1 1
  Botev Plovdiv 1 1
  Omonia Nicosia 1 1
  Manchester City 1 1
  Manchester United 1 1
  Sunderland 1 1
  Marseille 1 1
  Margveti 1 1
  Fiorentina 1 1
  Lazio 1 1
  Roma 1 1
  AZ 1 1
  Vitesse 1 1
  Celtic 1 1
  Atlético Madrid 1 1
  Deportivo La Coruña 1 1
  Villarreal 1 1
  Galatasaray 1 1
  Porthmadog 1 1
  Red Star Belgrade 1 1

Winners by nationality

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European Golden Shoe winners by nationality
Nationality Total Players
  Portugal 8 3
  Argentina 7 2
  Netherlands 4 4
  Uruguay 4 2
  Bulgaria 3 3
  Italy 3 3
  Brazil 3 2
  Romania 3 2
  Austria 2 2
  England 2 2
  Wales 2 2
  Yugoslavia 2 2
  France 2 1
  West Germany 2 1
  Scotland 2 1
  Poland 2 1
  Armenia 1 1
  Belgium 1 1
  Cyprus 1 1
  Georgia 1 1
  Greece 1 1
  Mexico 1 1
  Norway 1 1
  Sweden 1 1
  Turkey 1 1

Winners by league

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European Golden Shoe winners by league
League Total Players
  La Liga 15 7
  Premier League 7 6
  Primeira Liga 7 4
  Bundesliga 5 3
  Eredivisie 4 4
  Serie A 3 3
  Parva Liga 3 3
  Scottish Premier Division 3 2
  Liga I 3 2
  Austrian Bundesliga 2 2
  Ligue 1 1 1
  Cypriot First Division 1 1
  Belgian Pro League 1 1
  Süper Lig 1 1
  Yugoslav First League 1 1
  Welsh Premier League 1 1
  Armenian Premier League 1 1
  Umaglesi Liga 1 1

2024–25 season standings

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As of 3 December 2024
2024–25 European Golden Shoe rankings
Rank Player Club(s) League(s) Goals Minutes[N 1] Factor[N 2] Points
1   Robert Lewandowski Barcelona   La Liga 15[8] 1,254 2 30
2   Harry Kane Bayern Munich   Bundesliga 14[9] 966 2 28
3   Alex Tamm Nõmme Kalju   Meistriliiga 28[10] 3,027 1 28
4   Omar Marmoush Eintracht Frankfurt   Bundesliga 13[9] 1,009 2 26
5   Reginaldo Ramires Auda
Riga
  Virslīga 25[11] 2,267 1 25
6   Mateo Retegui Atalanta   Serie A 12[12] 888 2 24
7   Viktor Gyökeres Sporting CP   Primeira Liga 16[13] 1,065 1.5 24
8   Erling Haaland Manchester City   Premier League 12[14] 1,170 2 24
9   Páll Klettskarð   Betri deildin menn 23[15] 2,300 1 23
10   Mohamed Salah Liverpool   Premier League 11[14] 1,140 2 22
11   Raphinha Barcelona   La Liga 11[8] 1,349 2 22
12   Alioune Ndoye Valmiera   Virslīga 22[11] 2,154 1 22
13   Manfred Ugalde Spartak Moscow   Premier League 14[16] 1,351 1.5 21
14   Kristian Eriksen Molde   Eliteserien 14[17] 2,417 1.5 21
15   Bradley Barcola Paris Saint-Germain   Ligue 1 10[18] 905 2 20
16   Promise David Nõmme Kalju
Union Saint-Gilloise
  Meistriliiga
  Belgian Pro League
18[10][19] 1,666 1.5[N 3] 20[N 3]
17   Liviu Antal Žalgiris   A Lyga 20[20] 2,396 1 20
18   Jonathan Burkardt Mainz 05   Bundesliga 9[9] 953 2 18
19   Ola Brynhildsen Midtjylland
Molde
  Danish Superliga
  Eliteserien
14[21][17] 966 1.5[N 4] 18[N 4]
20   Jonathan David Lille   Ligue 1 9[18] 1,000 2 18

Notes

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  1. ^ In the case of a tie on points, players are ranked by fewest minutes played.
  2. ^ The championships of the top five countries in the UEFA rankings have a factor of 2, the countries ranked from 6th to 22nd place a factor of 1.5. Other countries have a factor of 1.
  3. ^ a b 14 goals scored in Meistriliiga with a coefficient 1, others scored in Belgian Pro League with a coefficient 1.5.
  4. ^ a b 10 goals scored in Danish Superliga with a coefficient 1, others scored in Eliteserien with a coefficient 1.5.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Golden Boot: The Quotients Decide It All". soccerphile.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
  2. ^ "European Golden Shoe". European Sports Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  3. ^ "The European Golden Shoe". FIFA. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  4. ^ "What does Cristiano Ronaldo need to secure his fifth Golden Boot?". Marca. 23 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. ^ "European Topscorers by Season". rsssf.org. RSSSF. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Golden Boot ("Soulier d'Or") Awards". RSSSF.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Macedonia's Pancev awarded Golden boot....15 years late". Dnaindia.com. 4 August 2006. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b "La Liga Stats – Scorers". La Liga. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Bundesliga Player Stats – Goals". Bundesliga. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Edetabel" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b Flashscore
  12. ^ "Statistics | Serie A". Serie A. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Liga Portugal". LigaPortugal.pt/. Liga Portugal Betclic. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Premier League Player Stats: Goals". Premier League. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Betrideildin menn - Fótbóltssamband Føroya" (in Faroese). Faroe Islands Football Association. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Goalscorers". Russian Premier League. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Eliteserien 2024 - Toppscorer, gule og røde kort". Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian). Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Bradley Barcola- Paris Saint-Germain". ligue1.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Top scorer - First Division A 2024/2025 stats". FotMob. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  20. ^ "A Lyga - Lietuvos Futbolas". lietuvosfutbolas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  21. ^ "3F Superliga Stats". www.superliga.dk (in Danish). Superliga. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
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  NODES
Association 3
Note 6