UEFA Champions League (UCL) Golden Boot winners list.

The UCL is the most prestigious club soccer competition in the world. The UCL or the UEFA Champions League Golden Boot Award is one of the biggest trophies for players on the European continent.

Since the inception of the UCL in 1955–56, the Champions League Golden Boot award has been presented to the player with the most goals in the competition or the top scorer.

From Alfredo Di Stéfano to Just Fontaine, Ferenc Puskás, Eusébio, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Gerd Müller, Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Robert Lewandowski, some of the most prominent players of world football have registered their names on the winner’s list.

So who are the Champions League Golden Boot award winners on the list? Which player has won the most UCL Golden Boots?

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the most UCL Golden Boot award seven times. Ronaldo won the award six consecutive seasons in 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 all at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League in three consecutive seasons simultaneously.

The Champions League began as the European Cup until 1992, when it was rebranded to the UEFA Champions League. Interestingly, some of the players that won the award in the European Cup have also won it in the current Champions League era.

UCL Golden Boot: UEFA Champions League Top scorers award winners list from 2022 to 1956

• 2021-22 -?
• 2020–21 – Erling Haaland (10 Goals, Borussia Dortmund, Norway)
• 2010–20 – Robert Lewandowski (15 Goals, Bayern Munich, Poland)
• 2018–19 – Lionel Messi (12 Goals, Barcelona, Argentina)
• 2017–18 – Cristiano Ronaldo (15 Goals, Real Madrid, Portugal)
• 2016–17 – Cristiano Ronaldo (12 Goals, Real Madrid, Portugal)
• 2015–16- Cristiano Ronaldo (16 Goals, Real Madrid, Portugal)
• 2014–15 – Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi (Barcelona – Brazil and Argentina – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal) – (10 Goals)
• 2013–14 – Cristiano Ronaldo (17 Goals, Real Madrid and Portugal)
• 2012–13 – Cristiano Ronaldo (12 Goals, Real Madrid and Portugal)
• 2011–12 – Lionel Messi (14 Goals, Barcelona and Argentina)
• 2010–11- Lionel Messi (13 Goals, Barcelona and Argentina)
• 2009–10 – Lionel Messi (8 Goals, Barcelona Argentina)
• 2008–09 – Lionel Messi (8 Goals Barcelona Argentina)
• 2007–08 – Cristiano Ronaldo (8 Goals, Manchester United, Portugal)
• 2006–07 – Kaká (10 Goals, AC Milan, Brazil)
• 2005–06 – Andriy Shevchenko (9 Goals, AC Milan, Brazil)
• 2004–05 – Ruud van Nistelrooy (8 Goals, Manchester United, Netherlands)
• 2003–04 – Fernando Morientes (9 Goals, AS Monaco, Spain)
• 2002–03 – Ruud van Nistelrooy (12 Goals, Manchester United, Netherlands)
• 2001–02 – Ruud van Nistelrooy (10 Goals, Manchester United, Netherlands)
• 2000–01 – Raúl (7 Goals, Real Madrid, Spain)
• 1999–2000 – Mário Jardel (FC Porto, Brazil)… Rivaldo (FC Barcelona)… Raúl (Real Madrid)
• 1998–99 – Andriy Shevchenko (Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine)… Dwight Yorke (Manchester United, Trinidad and Tobago) – (8 Goals)
• 1997–98 – Alessandro Del Piero – (10 Goals, Juventus Italy)
• 1996–97 – Milinko Pantić (5 Goals, Atlético Madrid, Serbia)
• 1995–96 – Jari Litmanen (9 Goals, Ajax Amsterdam, Finland)
• 1994–95 – George Weah (7 Goals, Paris Saint-Germain, Liberia)
• 1993–94 – Ronaldo Koeman (FC Barcelona)… Wynton Rufer (SV Werder Bremen, New Zealand) – (8 Goals)
• 1992–93 – Romário (7 Goals, PSV Eindhoven, Brazil)
• 1991–92 – Sergei Yuran (SL Benfica, Ukraine)…Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille, France) – (7 Goals)
• 1990–91 – Peter Pacult (Tirol Innsbruck, Austria)… Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille, France) -(6 Goals)
• 1989–90 – Romário (PSV Eindhoven, Brazil)… Jean-Pierre Papin (Marseille, France) – (6 Goals)
• 1988–89 – Marco van Basten (10 Goals, AC Milan, Netherlands) 
• 1987–88 – Gheorghe Hagi (Steaua București, Romania)…Jean-Marc Ferreri (Bordeaux, France)… Rabah Madjer (FC Porto, Algeria) – (4 Goals)
• 1986–87 – Borislav Cvetković (7 Goals, Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)
• 1985–86 – Torbjörn Nilsson (6 Goals, IFK Göteborg, Sweden)
• 1984–85 – Torbjörn Nilsson (IFK Göteborg, Sweden)… Michel Platini (Juventus, France) – (7 Goals)
• 1983–84 – Viktor Sokol (6 Goals, Dinamo Minsk, Belarus)
• 1982–83 – Paolo Rossi (6 Goals, Juventus, Italy)
• 1981–82 – Dieter Hoeneß (7 Goals, Bayern Munich, Germany)
• 1980–81 – Terry McDermott (Liverpool FC)… Graeme Souness (Liverpool FC)… Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich) – (6 Goals)
• 1979–80 – Søren Lerby (10 Goals, Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands)
• 1978–79 – Claudio Sulser (11 Goals, Grasshopper, Switzerland)
• 1977–78 – Allan Simonsen (5 Goals, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Denmark)
• 1976–77 – Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich, Germany)… Franco Cucinotta (Zürich, Switzerland) – (5 Goals)
• 1975–76 – Jupp Heynckes (6 Goals, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany)
• 1974–75 – Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich, Germany)… Eduard Makarov (Ararat Yerevan, Armenia) – (5 Goals)
• 1973–74 – Gerd Müller (8 Goals, Bayern Munich, Germany)
• 1972–73 – Gerd Müller (11 Goals, Bayern Munich, Germany)
• 1971–72 – Johan Cruyff (Ajax, Netherlands)… Antal Dunai (Újpest, Hungary)… Lou Macari (Celtic, Scotland)… Silvester Takač (Standard Liège, Serbia Yugoslavia) – (5 Goals (
• 1970–71 – Antonis Antoniadis (10 Goals, Panathinaikos, Greece)
• 1969–70 – Mick Jones (8 Goals, Leeds United, England)
• 1968–69 – Denis Law (9 Goals, Manchester United, Scotland)
• 1967–68 – Eusébio (6 Goals, SL Benfica, Portugal)
• 1966–67 – Jürgen Piepenburg (Vorwärts Berlin, Germany)… Paul Van Himst (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium) – (6 Goals)
• 1965–66 – Flórián Albert (Ferencváros, Hungary)… Eusébio (SL Benfica, Portugal) – (7 Goals)
• 1963–64 – Vladica Kovačević (Partizan, Serbia)… Sandro Mazzola (Inter Milan, Italy)… Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid, Hungary) – (7 Goals)
• 1962–63 – José Altafini (14 Goals, AC Milan, Italy)
• 1961–62 – Heinz Strehl (1. FC Nürnberg, Germany)… Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid, Argentina)… Justo Tejada (Real Madrid, Spain)… Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid, Hungary) – (8 Goals)
• 1960–61 – José Águas (11 Goals, SL Benfica, Portugal)
• 1959–60 – (12 Goals, Real Madrid, Hungary)
• 1958–59 – (10 Goals, Reims, France)
• 1957–58 – Alfredo Di Stéfano (10 Goals, Real Madrid, Argentina)
• 1956–57 – Dennis Viollet (9 Goals, Manchester United, England)
• 1955–56 – Miloš Milutinović (8 Goals, Partizan Serbia)

Top Players with most UEFA Champions League Golden Boots

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 7

Cristiano Ronaldo is the player with the most UCL Golden Boots. The Portuguese forward has a total of seven awards, which include six consecutive awards at Real Madrid and one with Manchester United.

Three of Ronaldo’s Golden Boot awards had three consecutive Champions League. Only second to Ronaldo is Lionel Messi, with six awards.

Often considered the best player globally and widely regarded as one of the greatest players, Ronaldo has a record in the top three European football leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, Série A and ultimately the UEFA Champions League.

In 2008 when Ronaldo won his first UCL Golden Boot at Manchester United, he scored eight goals, including a goal in the final against Chelsea FC.

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the list of Portuguese players with the most awards in the 21st century at seven. Iconic players like Eusébio, José Águas, José Torres have won it at least once.

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players in the 21st century to have won the Golden Boot. The Portuguese forward made it six consecutive trophies yet to be matched by any other player. 

Ronaldo won the award with two clubs (Manchester United and Real Madrid). He is one of the few players to win the prize with more than one club.

2007/08 – Manchester United

Manchester United won the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League trophy, and Ronaldo formed an integral part of the first team under the guidance of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ronaldo’s 26th-minute goal in the all English final against Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow was cancelled by Frank Lampard’s goal at halftime, which forced the game to penalties after the resulting half failed to produce the decider.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played an integral part of the trophy-winning side, scored eight goals to win the 2007–08 UEFA Golden Boot, his first.

2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18

Two years later, Ronaldo switched to Spanish giants Real Madrid. His first three seasons at the Spanish capital club weren’t the best, especially in the European football scene.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo burst into the scene in 2012–13 to emerge the Golden winner, although Real Madrid failed to reach the finals. Ronaldo maintained his perfect run in the Champions League the following season, 2013–14, scoring 17 goals to win the award consecutively.

Ronaldo went on to write his name in history books, this time winning the Golden Boot for the third consecutive season, 2014–15, along with Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. The Portuguese made it three more victories to become the first-ever player to win the UCL Golden Boot in sixfold.

2. Lionel Messi – 8

Lionel Messi has won six UEFA Champions League Golden Boots, all at Barcelona. The Argentine who began his professional football career at the Catalan club also won four consecutive awards from 2009 to 2012.

Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the best footballers globally, ranked among Cristiano Ronaldo. Unlike Cristiano, Ronaldo achieved more with a single club while Ronaldo won his first award at Manchester United before completing the sixfold.

Messi, despite having a direct competition with Cristiano Ronaldo, won four consecutive UCL Golden Boot even though Ronaldo surpassed Messi’s record by winning six straight awards.

In the 21st century, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead the award all-time winners chart. The duo have won 13 trophies amongst themselves.

The Argentina forward moved to the French side Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his blissful career with Barcelona. For Messi, he became one of the most successful players in the world at the club and national team levels.

One of the greatest players in the history of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi, received six UCL Golden Boots. The Argentine was the first ever to win the award in four consecutive seasons surpassing Gerd Müller’s three straight Boots between 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75, all at Bayern Munich.

Lionel Messi won four consecutive awards, all at FC Barcelona, winning two Champions League. Messi’s first successful outing on the European scene was in 2005 during the Champions League.

In world football, Messi is at a high level. His style of play and career stats makes him stand out as one of the best players in the sport’s history.

2008–09

Messi had an uninterrupted season that saw him win his first award. With nine goals, Messi helped Barcelona win their third UEFA Champions League trophy and the treble.

Most of Messi’s goals in 2008-09 were decisive goals for Barcelona, including the 70th-minute goal that ultimately handed the UCL trophy to Barcelona at the expense of English giants Manchester United.

2009–10

Messi continued from where he stopped with the Catalan club until the following season. The Argentine forward scored eight goals to emerge Top scorer in the end. Messi was undoubtedly unstoppable even though injuries had a fair share of his blissful career that season.

2010–11

Messi again pulled up a fantastic performance to help Barcelona win their fourth UEFA Champions League trophy by scoring 12 Goals. The Argentine was on target in the final as Barcelona ran out 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley stadium.

Messi ramped up his fourth consecutive UCL Golden Boot after scoring 14 goals in the 2011–12 season.

2014–15

Neymar Jr, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi finished as joint top scorers at the end of the season. Messi extended his Golden Boot awards to six in 2018–19 after 12 goals.

3. Gerd Müller – 4

Gerd Müller is the best German footballer with most UCL Golden Boot awards. Müller received four UEFA Champions League Golden Boot, all at Bayern Munich.

Considered one of the best football players in the sport’s history, Müller was known for his clinical finishing and goal-scoring abilities for club and national teams.

Müller won the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, the European Cup and the FIFA World Cup with Die Mannschaft (the German Men’s National Team).

Gerd Müller won three consecutive awards and completed a fourth about two years after. His contributions led Bayern Munich to three European Cup titles.

Gerd Müller was the first European footballer to win three consecutive UCL Golden Boots. German football won three trophies, all at Bayern Munich. In total, Müller won four awards.

Known for his ability and clinical finishing, Gerd Müller is one of the greatest goalscorers in football history and has won some of the biggest trophies, including the European Cup and the European Football Championship.

4. Eusébio – 3 Goals

Eusébio won three UCL Golden Boot awards at Benfica in 1965, 1966, and 1968. He was the first winner of the European Cup Golden Shoe, then as top scorer award.

Eusébio helped Benfica win the 1961–62 European Cup. He remains an unchallenged Portuguese best footballer and the best player in the history of SL Benfica.

Others

Jean-Pierre Papin (3), Ruud van Nistelrooy (3), Ferenc Puskás (3)

History of the UCL Golden Boot

The UCL Golden Boot is an annual award presented to the highest goalscorer of the UEFA Champions League, first awarded in 1956. Serbian footballer Miloš Milutinović was the first to receive the award after scoring eight goals for Partizan Belgrade.

It is more like an honour for the best players with the most goals. Some of the greatest goalscorers in European football history like Eusébio, Gerd Müller, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo have won the award.

Overall, Portuguese players lead the all-time winner’s chart by country with 13 titles, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo with seven titles which include a record-setting six consecutive wins at Real Madrid.

About the Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is the top tier professional football competition for European football clubs. The competition initially began as the European Cup in 1955 before it was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992.

The Champions League, often referred to as the UCL, is one of the most prestigious football tournaments globally and the most prestigious club competition in European football.

The UCL Golden Boot or the Champions League Top scorers award is awarded to players of the participating clubs with the most goals at the end of the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gerd Müller and Eusébio are some of the players with more than three awards