World Cup Golden Boot: Every previous winner including Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, James Rodriguez

The World Cup 2026 trophy is not the only shiny piece of metal on offer in North America this summer, as one prolific soul will head home with the Golden Boot award tucked safely away in their suitcase.

Prominent figures and forgotten names alike have all topped the Mundial scoring charts since the competition's inauguration in 1930, most recently Kylian Mbappe, who fired in an unrivalled eight goals during the Qatar 2022 edition.

However, the Real Madrid star's achievement could not mask the pain of a gut-wrenching final loss to Argentina - as shown when a solemn Mbappe collected his prize alongside Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi and Golden Glove recipient Emiliano Martinez, both beaming with pride while the striker cast a glum look.

As Mbappe tries to defend his individual honour in 2026 - as well as taking France one step further as a collective - Sports Mole provides a list of each previous World Cup Golden Boot winner.

World Cup 2022 Golden Boot winner: Kylian Mbappe (8)

© Imago

Four years on from scoring four at the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe doubled his goals tally during the mid-season Qatar event, striking once against Australia in France's opener before a brace against Denmark on matchday two.

The former Monaco sensation then propelled Les Bleus into the quarters with two goals and an assist vs. Poland, before drawing blanks against England and Morocco, albeit to no effect as Didier Deschamps's men progressed to the showpiece match.

Enhancing his status as the big-game player, Mbappe became just the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, emulating England luminary Sir Geoff Hurst with his treble against Argentina.

The attacker also held his nerve from the penalty spot in the shootout, but the ultimate prize still eluded him.

World Cup 2018 Golden Boot winner: Harry Kane (6)

© Iconsport / PA Images

Helping the nation finally believe again, Harry Kane carried his exceptional Tottenham Hotspur form over to the world stage in 2018, although some believe there is an asterisk attached to his Golden Boot triumph.

The England skipper scored five of his unrivalled six Russian goals in two group-stage games, netting twice against Tunisia before a hat-trick in a 6-1 thumping of minnows Panama.

Kane's sixth and final goal arrived in the last-16 triumph over Colombia, as the now-Bayern Munich man drew blanks against Sweden, Croatia and Belgium during the latter stage of the tournament.

Nevertheless, Kane's sextet of strikes sufficed for a Golden Boot trophy, as he became the first Englishman to collect the prize since Gary Lineker at the 1986 edition.

World Cup 2014 Golden Boot winner: James Rodriguez (6)

© Iconsport / WENN/Alamy

Capturing the hearts of football fans worldwide during the 2014 World Cup, Colombian colossus James Rodriguez did not only win the Golden Boot - he did so while scoring in every single game he played in.

Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan were all breached by Rodriguez during the group stage, before the playmaker single-handedly took down Uruguay in the last 16, thanks in no small part to his mesmerising left-footed volley.

Rodriguez's spot kick then gave his nation a sliver of hope against Brazil in the quarter-finals, but the images of the inconsolable Colombian would live far longer in the memory than any of him posing with the individual accolade.