Every Champions League Golden Boot Winner

The Champions League is the place where players walk onto the pitch and legends leave. It can make or break careers in a matter of minutes, as the world’s greatest club competition causes chaos, intrigue and drama every season.

It is nothing more than a dream for most players, but – for the very best – it is a reality as all their hard work, commitment and determination culminate in a Champions League campaign. The main prize in it is – unsurprisingly – the big-eared trophy, glistening under the floodlights in every final. The Golden Boot is one of the other awards that comes with it at the end and is given to the player (or players) who scores the most goals throughout the campaign.

Theoretically, a player could win it for scoring endless goals in the qualifying stages, although it is often won by the very best players in the world who reach the end of the tournament. This article now lists every player that has won the Golden Boot since the competition’s rebranding in 1992.

23 Kylian Mbappe – 1

2024

Luis Enrique only had one season at Paris Saint-Germain with Kylian Mbappe and arrived in the French capital with a reputation for looking unfavourably upon star players. But the former Barcelona boss was at pains to please an individual who he described as “clearly the best player in the world”.

“He plays where he decides,” Luis Enrique shrugged. “He has complete freedom to play inside, outside, wherever he wants, and we have to balance our positions in relation to him.” This uncharacteristic subservience to one player got the best out of Mbappe – the Frenchman won his first Golden Boot and matched his best tally in the competition – but PSG could not overcome their European curse, crashing out in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund. Neither Mbappe nor any of his teammates could find the net in that tie.

22 Harry Kane – 1

2024

The beauty of Harry Kane’s prolific streak is that nothing is forced. Scoring is obviously a key aspect of his role in the team, but it doesn’t haunt his every waking moment. As Thomas Tuchel, the Bayern Munich boss who convinced Kane to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, said: “He doesn’t just play for the goals. But the goals come to him.”

The goals came to Kane in an unrelenting torrent throughout his debut season in Bavaria. All manner of scoring records tumbled as the England skipper racked up 44 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions, including an unrivalled tally of eight against Europe’s elite.

21 Karim Benzema – 1

Real Madrid won the 2021/22 Champions League against Liverpool in the final, seeing them lift the famous trophy for a record-extending 14th time. Karim Benzema kickstarted the group stage with four goals as they finished top before coming up against PSG in the round of 16. Madrid looked to be heading out, but a hat-trick from Benzema secured victory in the second half of the second leg.

The prolific Frenchman scored a further four goals in the quarter-finals against Chelsea, including a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, before scoring a further three against Manchester City, featuring an extra-time winner during a dramatic comeback. In total, he finished with 15 goals, which saw him win the Ballon d’Or for the first time.

20 Robert Lewandowski – 1

2020

Robert Lewandowski’s campaign during the 2019/20 Champions League was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The season had a major break from March 2020 to August 2020. As was always the case with the Polish striker, he helped Bayern cruise through the group stages, before scoring three goals as they beat Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.

As the competition moved to one-leg matches in Portugal, he scored once in their 8-2 demolition of Barcelona and once in the semi-finals against Lyon. Bayern won the competition thanks to a goal from Kingsley Coman against PSG in the final. Lewandowski finished as the leading scorer in the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal that season, but he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or due to it being cancelled.

19 Neymar – 1

2015

When Neymar ran rings around the kids from his neighbourhood on the futsal courts throughout his youth, he wore a headband which read: “100% Jesus”. As he celebrated the 2015 Champions League title, the culmination of a treble-winning campaign, the Brazilian hoisted the big-eared trophy aloft wearing that same white garment.

Neymar took his European tally for the campaign into double digits with a goal in the final against Juventus as Barcelona ran out 3-1 winners. Not only did this afford him a share of that year’s Golden Boot – an honour he held alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (not bad company) – but it gave Neymar the unique distinction of becoming the first player to ever score in the final of Europe’s ultimate competition and the Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent.

18 Kaka – 1

2007

Kaka’s elegance and natural skill made him one of the greatest players of the generation. He was part of one of the most iconic Brazilian teams of all time, whilst his spell with AC Milan epitomised the word ‘world-class’.

Milan won the Champions League in 2007, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final. Kaka played a crucial part in the run to the showpiece, with 10 goals – four clear of anyone else. He scored three times against Manchester United in the semi-finals, whilst, in the quarter-finals, he scored a crucial penalty against Bayern Munich. He was named UEFA’s Footballer of the Year due to his performances.

17 Fernando Morientes – 1

2004

In the 2003/04 Champions League, football witnessed two of the most surprising finalists ever, as Monaco faced Porto. Jose Mourinho’s Portuguese outfit came out on top, winning 3-0, yet Monaco’s journey was dramatic, particularly due to Fernando Morientes’ contributions.

The burly striker scored twice in the semi-finals against Chelsea to help them progress, whilst also scoring twice in the previous round against Real Madrid, the team that had loaned him to the Principality club at the start of the season. By the end of the campaign, he finished with nine goals, two clear of his Croatian Monaco teammate Dado Prso.

16 Rivaldo – 1

2000

Rivaldo finished the first Champions League campaign of the new millennium with 10 goals, level with Mario Jardel and Raul. The Brazilian attacker, playing for Barcelona, showcased unparalleled skill and goal-scoring prowess. His dazzling performances and crucial goals propelled Barcelona to the semi-finals.

His standout moment came in the quarter-final against Chelsea, when he netted a hat-trick, securing Barcelona’s place in the final four. Rivaldo’s 10 goals highlighted his legacy alongside the sport’s greatest players, as they watched him cause issues every match. It was his best season in the Champions League individually, although he did win it in 2003 with AC Milan.

15 Mario Jardel – 1

2000

Mario Jardel is one of the most unknown players to win the Champions League Golden Boot. However, throughout his time at Porto, he scored a staggering 130 goals in 125 matches. His campaign during the 1999/00 Champions League saw him score 10 goals, level with Rivaldo and Raul.

Jardel’s goals helped Porto reach the quarter-finals before they were knocked out by Bayern Munich. He scored in both legs against the German giants, but a 93rd-minute strike from Thomas Linke secured victory for the powerhouses. Yet his goals throughout highlighted how he was one of Porto’s best players, even if he never succeeded at a major club.

14 Dwight Yorke – 1

1999

Dwight Yorke began the 1998/99 campaign sulking at Aston Villa. By the end of the season, he was lifting the Champions League trophy as the competition’s top scorer to complete the greatest campaign in English football history. Yorke not only racked up an unrivalled eight goals for Manchester United during his first season in Europe’s elite competition but also amassed a staggering haul of eight assists – a tally no other player could better.

Most of Yorke’s decisive contributions came in the group stages, directly contributing to seven goals across two games against Brondby. But the affable forward came up clutch in the semi-final second leg against Juventus, heading in an equaliser before teeing up his fearsome striker partner, Andy Cole, for an 83rd-minute winner.

13 Alessandro Del Piero – 1

1998

In 1998, Juventus reached the Champions League final, only to lose to Real Madrid 1-0 in the biggest match in the world. Yet to get there, Alessandro Del Piero produced a series of incredible performances.

The Italian glided and dazzled his way past defenders, scoring 10 goals in the process. He finished three goals clear of second-placed Thierry Henry. Showcasing his talent, Del Piero scored a hat-trick against Monaco in the semi-final first leg, seeing Juventus progress through. His elegance made him one of the best players in the world at the time, although he only managed to win one Champions League title in his career.

12 Milinko Pantic – 1

1997

Alongside Jardel, Milinko Pantic is a name not familiar to most. However, in 1997, he somehow finished top of the goalscoring standings with Atletico Madrid, despite scoring just five goals. He found the net four times in the first phase, seeing Atletico finish top of the group, ahead of eventual winners Borussia Dortmund.

However, in the quarter-finals, they lost 4-3 on aggregate against Ajax, despite Pantic scoring an extra-time equaliser in the 105th minute. It proved to be in vain, and – although he didn’t showcase remarkable goalscoring talent – he still finished top by one goal. It was one of the highlights of the Yugoslav’s career.

11 Jari Litmanen – 1

1996

Jari Litmanen’s first spell at Ajax saw him break into the mainstream media as he impressed with his elegance and creativity. Throughout his seven-year spell, he scored 91 goals in 159 matches – and his success in the 1996 Champions League contributed to that.

During the tournament, he scored nine goals – three clear of second-placed Del Piero. He helped Ajax get past Borussia Dortmund and Panathinaikos in the knockout stages, before facing Juventus in the final. Showcasing his goalscoring talent, Litmanen scored an equaliser 41 minutes in to make it 1-1, but they eventually lost on penalties. It was a cruel way for the Finnish finisher’s incredible campaign to end.

10 George Weah – 1

1995

George Weah was one of the best strikers during the 1990s, even winning the Ballon d’Or in 1995. He showcased his talent consistently, including during the 1994/95 Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain. He scored six goals during the group stage, including two in the final match against Spartak Moscow to confirm the top spot.

In the knockout stages, Weah scored just one, in the quarter-final first leg against Barcelona, which they would eventually win. The striker failed to score in the semi-finals as PSG were knocked out by AC Milan 3-0 on aggregate, but it was still enough for him to win the Golden Boot.

9 Wynton Rufer – 1

1994

Wynton Rufer won the Golden Boot with eight goals alongside Ronald Koeman. The New Zealand striker is the only player from his country to finish as the leading scorer in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

In the first and second rounds, he scored four goals throughout, helping Werder Bremen progress past Dinamo Minsk and Levski Sofia. Rufer scored four goals again in the latter group stages, yet it wasn’t enough to keep Bremen in the tournament. They finished third on five points, two points behind second-placed Porto. Despite this, the clinical Kiwi still finished top alongside Koeman. Unfortunately for Rufer, he has no trophy to remember his achievements by. “I just gave everything away,” he recalled years later. “As a strong believer in Jesus, as a Christian, I’m not so into materialism.”

8 Ronald Koeman – 1

1994

Ronald Koeman was a defender and midfielder throughout his career. Yet he was a goalscoring one at that, especially on set-pieces. This was highlighted during the 1993/94 Champions League when he finished with eight goals alongside Rufer.

Barcelona reached the final, only to lose 4-0 to AC Milan, but Koeman’s goals helped create an adventure for the Catalan club. He scored once in the semi-final against Porto as they won 3-0, whilst he also scored major goals in the previous rounds, including two strikes against Spartak Moscow and a penalty against Galatasaray. He remains one of the most prolific defenders ever.

7 Romario – 1

1993

Romario is often forgotten about when talking about the greatest strikers from the 1990s, yet he showcased immense talent on a regular basis. In the 1992/1993 Champions League campaign, he finished as the top scorer of the tournament with seven goals for PSV Eindhoven, including a hat-trick in the second round against AEK Athens. Alongside this, he scored three goals in the latter group stages. They finished bottom and were knocked out, but Romario’s talent provided the Dutch team with hope. It highlighted his importance to PSV before he eventually moved to La Liga giants Barcelona in the summer of 1993.

6 Erling Haaland – 2

2021, 2023

Erling Haaland is often described as ‘robotic’. It might sound like an insult, but it’s purely due to his strength, power and cold-blooded finishing. He naturally scores goals every week, as shown in the Champions League. He won the Golden Boot with Borussia Dortmund in 2021, scoring 10 goals for the German giants. BVB were eventually knocked out in the quarter-finals by his future club, Manchester City.

When Haaland then joined Pep Guardiola’s side in 2022, he went on to win the Champions League in his first season. His 12 goals, including one in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, highlighted his importance to the European treble winners.

5 Raul – 2

2000, 2001

During the 1999/00 Champions League campaign, Real Madrid were aiming to win the competition once again – and they did exactly that. They beat Spanish rivals Valencia 3-0 in the final. Raul scored the final goal in the match to secure victory, taking his tally to 10 goals at the top of the rankings, equal with Mario Jardel and Rivaldo.

In the following season, Raul finished as the competition’s outright top scorer with seven goals. Two of his strikes came in the quarter-finals as he helped the club overturn a 3-2 deficit against Galatasaray. Real Madrid were ultimately knocked out in the semi-finals by Bayern Munich.

4 Andriy Shevchenko – 2

1999, 2006

Manchester United won the Champions League in dramatic fashion in 1999, yet Andriy Shevchenko took some of the headlines with his natural goalscoring ability. The Ukrainian was still at Dynamo Kyiv and his eight goals, level with Dwight Yorke, during the campaign helped them reach the semi-finals. They narrowly lost to Bayern Munich to end their dream journey.

In 2006, during his final season with AC Milan, Shevchenko scored nine goals as they reached the semi-finals. They lost to Barcelona 1-0 on aggregate, but the Ukrainian striker still finished two goals ahead of second-placed Ronaldinho in the Golden Boot rankings.