Few individual awards carry as much prestige as the Golden Boot, the prize that honors the top goalscorer across Europe’s leagues each season. It’s not just about finding the net—it’s about doing it with ruthless consistency, game after game. Since its creation in the 1966-67 season, when Eusébio scored 42 goals for Benfica, the award has become a symbol of attacking excellence.

Over the years, the trophy has belonged to legendary names such as Gerd Müller, Marco van Basten, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi, among many others. Each left their mark with numbers that look straight out of a video game. The latest to join that illustrious list was Kylian Mbappé, who netted 31 goals in the 2025-26 season to claim his first Golden Boot wearing the Real Madrid jersey.

Messi, the Undisputed King of Goals

When it comes to the Golden Boot, Lionel Messi’s name shines above all. The Argentine star has claimed the award six times, a record that seems untouchable even for today’s greatest scorers. His dominance was absolute for more than a decade, especially between 2010 and 2019, when his relationship with goals reached almost surreal levels.

Behind him is Cristiano Ronaldo, with four Golden Boots, keeping him as Messi’s closest rival. Further down the list are players like Luis Suárez, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, who have all tried to match the Argentine and Portuguese icons but haven’t managed sustained success.

Mbappé, the Natural Heir

Frenchman Kylian Mbappé has long been circling the throne. From his breakout at Monaco to his time at PSG and now at Real Madrid, the forward has shown an insatiable hunger for goals. In 2018-19, he finished second with 33 goals; in 2021-22, he was runner-up again with 28; and in 2022-23, he came third with 27. Finally, in the 2025-26 season, his consistency and maturity earned him the award for the first time.

The Golden Boot’s history tells the tale of Europe’s greatest sharpshooters—from Portugal’s Eusébio to France’s Mbappé, passing through the legends who defined entire eras. Yet even now, Leo Messi remains the undisputed king of accuracy and endurance: six trophies, hundreds of goals, and a legacy that seems destined to last for a very long time.