The last five winners of the World Cup Golden Boot

The World Cup Golden Boot goes to the player who scores the most goals in the tournament, and for fans following the action closely, interest in things like sports betting odds often rises as the leading scorers begin to separate themselves from the rest.

Over the years, some of the biggest names in football have won the award, and sometimes it has gone to players whose teams never lifted the trophy. Here’s a look at the last five winners, how they found the net, where they shone, and how their nations fared.

2022 – Kylian Mbappe

French forward Kylian Mbappe claimed the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with eight goals – more than anyone else in the competition. He netted against Australia in the group stage, struck twice against Denmark, grabbed another brace against Poland in the round of 16, and then delivered one of the standout performances of his career in the final against Argentina, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw. Those eight goals made him one of the most valuable players to have backed at the tournament, and anyone who did could have used a bet calculator to track their returns throughout.

That made him only the second player in history to score three times in a men’s World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966. But unlike Hurst, Mbappe’s France lost the final to Argentina on penalties.

2018 – Harry Kane

England captain Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, finishing as top scorer with six goals. Kane struck twice against Tunisia in England’s opening group match, followed it up with a hat-trick against Panama in a 6-1 thrashing, then added a crucial penalty against Colombia in the round of 16.

He finished as top scorer despite being benched for England’s final group game against Belgium, which shows just how strong his early form was. England reached the semi-finals and finished fourth – their best World Cup performance in decades.

2014 – James Rodriguez

In 2014 in Brazil, Colombia’s James Rodriguez claimed the Golden Boot with six goals in just five games, making him one of the breakout stars of the competition. He netted once against Greece, then found the back of the net against the Ivory Coast and Japan in the group stage. His most memorable moment came in the round of 16 with two goals against Uruguay, including the famous volley that’s still remembered as one of the great World Cup strikes.

He then added Colombia’s final goal with a penalty against Brazil in the quarter-final, but Colombia were knocked out despite his brilliance. The team finished in the last eight, but Rodriguez left a lasting mark.

2010 – Thomas Muller

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Thomas Muller finished as Golden Boot winner with five goals and also picked up the Best Young Player award – proof of just how impressive his breakthrough was.

He opened his account with a goal against Australia in the group stage, before grabbing two against England within minutes of each other in the last-16 win. Muller then netted once against Argentina in the quarter-finals as Germany ran out convincing winners.

His final strike came in the third-place play-off against Uruguay, where he scored in a 3-2 victory to help Germany finish third. The competition announced Muller on the world stage and showed his knack for delivering in big moments.

2006 – Miroslav Klose

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Miroslav Klose won the Golden Boot with five goals, leading the line for the host nation. He struck twice against Costa Rica in the opening game, setting the tone early, then added another brace against Ecuador in the group stage. His most significant contribution came later in the competition when he scored a late equaliser in the 80th minute against Argentina, forcing the match into penalties, which Germany won.

Germany finished third at their home World Cup, and Klose’s goals were a huge part of that run, further building his reputation as one of the competition’s most reliable scorers.