The European Golden Shoe Award is an award that is presented each season to the leading goal scorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league. it was first presented in 1967-68 season, originally called “Soulier d’Or” which translates from French as a golden shoe and was presented by L’Équipe who also award Ballon d’OR.
European Golden Shoe Award Based On Points
Between 1967 to 1996 the award was given to the higher goal scorer in the European league. But in the 1996-1997 season, European sports media introduce the points system means that the golden shoe award has given on a points system that allows players in a tougher league to win even if they score fewer goals than a player in a weaker league.
| Player | Goal | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Eusébio | 42 | 1967–68 |
| Petar Zhekov | 36 | 1968–69 |
| Gerd Müller | 38 | 1969–70 |
| Josip Skoblar | 44 | 1970–71 |
| Gerd Müller | 40 | 1971–72 |
| Eusébio | 40 | 1972–73 |
| Héctor Yazalde | 46 | 1973–74 |
| Dudu Georgescu | 33 | 1974–75 |
| Sotiris Kaiafas | 39 | 1975–76 |
| Dudu Georgescu | 47 | 1976–77 |
| Hans Krankl | 41 | 1977–78 |
| Kees Kist | 34 | 1978–79 |
| Erwin Vandenbergh | 39 | 1979–80 |
| Georgi Slavkov | 31 | 1980–81 |
| Wim Kieft | 32 | 1981–82 |
| Fernando Gomes | 36 | 1982–83 |
| Ian Rush | 32 | 1983–84 |
| Fernando Gomes | 39 | 1984–85 |
| Marco van Basten | 37 | 1985–86 |
| Toni Polster | 39 | 1986–87 |
| Tanju Çolak | 39 | 1987–88 |
| Dorin Mateuț | 43 | 1988–89 |
| Hugo Sánchez | 38 | 1989–90 |
| Hristo Stoichkov | 34 | 1990–91 |
| Darko Pančev | 34 | 1991–92 |
| Ally McCoist | 34 | 1992–93 |
| Ally McCoist | 43 | 1993–94 |
| David Taylor | 39 | 1994–95 |
| Arsen Avetisyan | 40 | 1995–96 |
| Zviad Endeladze |
Golden shoe award based on points from 1996 to date:
In 1996 season the criteria to award golden shoe was changed to points system. Where goals in top 5 leagues in europe would get 2 points (per goal) while in other leagues you will have 1.5 points (per goal) or 1 point (per goal).
| Player | League | Goals | Points | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronaldo | La Liga | 34 | 68 | 1996–97 |
| Nikos Machlas | Eredivisie | 34 | 68 | 1997–98 |
| Mário Jardel | Primeira Liga | 36 | 72 | 1998–99 |
| Kevin Phillips | Premier League | 30 | 60 | 1999–2000 |
| Henrik Larsson | Scottish Premier League | 35 | 52.5 | 2000-2001 |
| Mário Jardel | Primeira Liga | 42 | 63 | 2001-2002 |
| Roy Makaay | La Liga | 29 | 58 | 2002-2003 |
| Thierry Henry | Premier League | 30 | 60 | 2003-2004 |
| Thierry Henry | Premier League | 25 | 50 | 2004-2005 |
| Diego Forlán | La Liga | 31 | 50 | 2004-2005 |
| Luca Toni | Serie A | 26 | 62 | 2005-2006 |
| Francesco Totti | Serie A | 31 | 52 | 2006-2007 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Premier League | 32 | 62 | 2007-2008 |
| Diego Forlán | La Liga | 34 | 64 | 2008-2009 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 40 | 68 | 2009-2010 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | La Liga | 50 | 80 | 2010-2011 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 46 | 100 | 2011-2012 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 31 | 92 | 2012-2013 |
| Luis Suárez | Premier League | 31 | 62 | 2013-2014 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | La Liga | 48 | 62 | 2013-2014 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | La Liga | 40 | 96 | 2014-2015 |
| Luis Suárez | La Liga | 37 | 80 | 2015-2016 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 34 | 74 | 2016-2017 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 36 | 68 | 2017-2018 |
| Lionel Messi | La Liga | 36 | 72 | 2018-2019 |
| Ciro Immobile | La Liga | 36 | 72 | 2019-2020 |
| Robert Lewandowski | Bundesliga | 41 | 82 | 2020-2021 |