Top 10 players with most European Golden Boot wins in history

Lionel Messi is the only player to win the prestigious award in three consecutive seasons.

Scoring goals is an important part of football. It is the ultimate deciding factor that settles any game as a victory or a loss. In today’s game, there are many individual awards to compete for. One of the most prestigious awards is the European Golden Boot.

The European Golden Boot is given in accordance with the most goals scored by a player in their respective leagues. The only leagues taken into account are the top five leagues in Europe.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 Players with the most European Golden Boots in football history.

10. Robert Lewandowski (2)

Now looking to win trophies with FC Barcelona, Lewandowski has already achieved wonders in his career. Lewandowski has won the Bundesliga eight times with Bayern and has also won the UEFA Champions League. He is currently amongst the active top scorers list for most goals, most goals scored in the Champions League and most goals in International football.

Robert Lewandowski has won the Golden Boot twice (2020-21) and (2021-2022). In the 2020-21 season, Lewandowski surpassed Gerd Muller’s record for most Bundesliga goals scored in a calendar year (40). Lewandowski won the European Golden Boot, scoring 41 goals.

The Polish striker then went on to win it next season as well, scoring 35 goals.

9. Luis Suarez (2)

The Uruguayan has had a stellar career. He has most recently re-joined his boyhood club Nacional after leaving Atletico Madrid. However, this does not rule out or determine the end of his career. Many would consider Benzema or Lewandowski better than Suarez solely based on current performances.

Luis Suarez has pulled off the unthinkable, winning not one but two Golden Boots during the prime Messi-Ronaldo era. Messi and Ronaldo have altogether won a total of 10 Golden Boots between the 2007-08 and the 2018-19 season. This feat itself speaks a lot about Suarez.

Moreover, Suarez won the Golden Boot in 2013-14 with a mediocre Liverpool side. The 2013-14 Golden Boot was shared with Cristiano Ronaldo as both scored 31 goals in their respective leagues.

8. Diego Forlan (2)

Forlan shared the European Golden Boot in 2005 with Thierry Henry. Diego proved himself at Villarreal, helping them to finish third in LaLiga and also tying with Henry for the Golden Boot. The strikers ended with 25 goals each. Diego Forlan won the Golden Boot yet again in the 2008-09 season whilst at Atletico Madrid.

Diego feigned a lot of contribution to Kun Aguero as well for helping him to win the Golden Boot. The Uruguayan and Argentinian formed a formidable attacking duo. Forlan ended the season with 32 goals in 33 games. This was a remarkable moment for Atletico Madrid since that kickstarted a confidence season for them. The following season, Forlan helped Los Rojiblancos to win their first-ever Europa League.

Also Read: European Golden Boot List of all winners

7. Thierry Henry (2)

Many praise Aguero for being the most clinical Premier League striker, and many consider Kane as the striker with the best passing attributes. However, back in the day, Thierry Henry had it all. Aguero and Kane have their strengths, but Thierry Henry is arguably the best all-around striker in the Premier League. The Frenchman dribbled well, had accurate passing, and was a goal-scoring machine. Henry shared the Golden Boot with Diego Forlan in 2005, scoring 25 goals.

Henry has won the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions as well. He is the only player to win the PL Golden Boot three times in a row. He is also widely considered the best PL striker, winning the European Golden Boot for two years in a row.

6. Mario Jardel (2)

Jardel is one of the underrated and perhaps unknown talented Brazilians in the world of football. The Brazilian won the European Golden Boot with Porto in 1999, scoring 36 goals. He then repeated this in 2002 with Sporting scoring 42 goals. Mario played a major role in Sporting’s first Championship in two decades. The downfall of Mario Jardel is very sa,d considering his talent and quality.

Mario Jardel suffered a lot because of his personal experiences and in the world of football. The Brazilian’s marriage came to an end, which coincided with his omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad as well. Mario also could not make it to the Spanish League because of a failed transfer.

5. Ally McCoist (2)

The Scottish striker is a Rangers legend and their all-time top scorer as well. McCoist is quite unknown in the world of football but is a legend in Scotland. Ally was a clinical penalty scorer as well and has won the European Golden Boot twice in a row.

Ally scored 355 goals in 581 games for Rangers. He won a slew of titles with Rangers, winning eight league championship titles and nine Scottish League Cups. Ally performed exquisitely on the International level as well for Scotland. He scored 19 goals in 61 caps and played at the 1990 World Cup Finals. Ally has also featured in the 1992 and 1996 European Championship Finals.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most Ballon d’Or awards

4. Gerd Muller (2)

Gerd was the Robert Lewandowski of his time in the 70s. The comparison is rather undermining, however, the truth is that Gerd Muller is as big a legend as Lewandowski himself.

Gerd has numerous accolades to his name. He won the Bundesliga Golden Boot seven times. Muller also won the Ballon d’Or in 1970. Gerd also won the Golden Boot at the 1970 World Cup, scoring 10 goals.

Muller is the second top scorer for most Bundesliga goals scored in a calendar year (40). Overall, he has scored 566 goals in 600-plus appearances with Bayern Munich. He has won the European Golden Boot on two occasions.

3. Eusebio (2)

He is arguably Portugal’s most legendary player after Cristiano Ronaldo. Before Ronaldo’s uprising on the international stage, Eusebio was and is possibly still considered the greatest Portuguese player. Overall, he scored 623 goals in his career.

The Portuguese was the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup, scoring nine goals. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1965. Eusebio was also the runner-up in 1962 and 1966. The European Golden Boot started in 1968 and Eusebio was the first player to ever win it. He also won it again in 1973.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (4)

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best Portuguese player of all time and arguably the greatest ever for many. Bar Lionel Messi and Pele, Ronaldo has the most individual awards and titles to his name. Ronaldo was his club’s (Manchester United and Real Madrid) top scorer for sixteen consecutive seasons. He is the first footballer to have scored 50-plus goals consecutively for six campaigns.

Ronaldo has won the European Golden Boot four times in his career. He shared one with Luis Suarez in the 2013-14 season, with both scoring 31 goals each. After the 2013-14 season, Ronaldo went on to score 48 goals for Real Madrid and win the Golden Boot for the fourth time.

1. Lionel Messi (6)

Who else but Lionel Messi? The best player ever to grace the beautiful game. Lionel Messi is leading Cristiano Ronaldo or any other player in terms of the Golden Boot. Messi has won it a record six times. Each of his goal-scoring seasons is absolutely phenomenal and unmatched however, the 2011-12 season is on another level.

Overall, Messi managed to score 73 goals in club football (most for any player) that season. Messi scored a total of 91 goals, including his stats with Argentina. Further breaking down the best individual year by a footballer, Messi scored an enthralling 50 goals in 37 LaLiga games to win the European Golden Boot.

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