The European Golden Boot is another prestigious award presented to Europe’s leading scorer. It was a football boot sculpture known as the “Soulier d’Or” in French, which translates to “golden boot” since its creation in 1967-68; the award was given out by the French magazine L’Équipe. Lionel Messi also holds the record for most golden boots (6) in the award’s history.
Between 1968 and 1991, Eusébio, Gerd Müller, Dudu Georgescu, and Fernando Gomes all won the award twice. Later that year, the Cyprus FA protested to L’Equipe about why their players were not awarded the golden boot despite scoring 40 goals.
Until 1996-97, players were granted points even if they scored fewer goals than a player from a lesser league. There have been countless situations in which two players scored the same number of goals. In that case, FIFA would credit the player who had played the fewest minutes. If there is a tie in points, the amount of assists and penalties scored are also considered. Only if the tie continues will the award be split.
Fun Facts:
- The European Golden Boot is also called the European Golden Shoe.
- European Sports Media has been awarding Golden Boot winners since 1996.
- The European Golden Boot is awarded annually to the top goalscorer in league matches from all European national league teams.
- There are nine players who have won the European Golden Boot twice.
- Between 1991-1992 and 1995-1996, there was no Golden Shoe ceremony.
Golden Shoe Winners (2000-2023):
| Year | Goals | Winner | Team |
| 2023 | 36 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| 2022 | 35 | Robert Lewandowski (2) | Bayern Munich |
| 2021 | 41 | Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich |
| 2020 | 36 | Ciro Immobile | Lazio |
| 2019 | 36 | Lionel Messi (6) | Barcelona |
| 2018 | 34 | Lionel Messi (5) | Barcelona |
| 2017 | 37 | Lionel Messi (4) | Barcelona |
| 2016 | 40 | Luis Suárez (2) | Barcelona |
| 2015 | 48 | Cristiano Ronaldo (4) | Real Madrid |
| 2014 | 31 | Luis Suárez | Liverpool |
| 2014 | 31 | Cristiano Ronaldo (3) | Real Madrid |
| 2013 | 46 | Lionel Messi (3) | Barcelona |
| 2012 | 50 | Lionel Messi (2) | Barcelona |
| 2011 | 40 | Cristiano Ronaldo (2) | Real Madrid |
| 2010 | 34 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona |
| 2009 | 32 | Diego Forlán (2) | Atlético Madrid |
| 2008 | 31 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
| 2007 | 26 | Francesco Totti | Roma |
| 2006 | 31 | Luca Toni | Fiorentina |
| 2005 | 25 | Thierry Henry (2) | Arsenal |
| 2005 | 25 | Diego Forlán | Villarreal |
| 2004 | 30 | Thierry Henry | Arsenal |
| 2003 | 29 | Roy Makaay | Deportivo La Coruña |
| 2002 | 42 | Mário Jardel (2) | Sporting CP |
| 2001 | 35 | Henrik Larsson | Celtic |
| 2000 | 30 | Kevin Phillips | Sunderland |