In football, scoring goals is the ultimate objective, and those who do it best often receive the highest accolades. Among those is the Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer in a league for a particular season. While some players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry are synonymous with Golden Boot awards, others have claimed this prestigious honour only to fade from memory over time.
This article revisits 10 forgotten Golden Boot winners across Europe’s top leagues — players who once lit up their domestic leagues but aren’t often mentioned in today’s conversations.
10. Wissam Ben Yedder (Ligue 1 2019–20, AS Monaco)
- Goals: 18 (shared with Kylian Mbappé)
- Club: AS Monaco
- Nationality: French
The 2019–20 Ligue 1 season was cut short due to COVID-19, and Ben Yedder ended up joint-top scorer with Mbappé. Known for his footwork and finishing, he was previously underrated at Sevilla and continues to perform well at Monaco. However, being overshadowed by Mbappé and Neymar has made his achievement less recognised.
9. Alexander Meier (Bundesliga 2014–15, Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Goals: 19
- Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
- Nationality: German
In a season where Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller played regularly, it was Meier who claimed the Torjägerkanone (Top Scorer Award) in Germany. A classic poacher with minimal flair, Meier’s name never reached mainstream stardom, and injuries hampered much of his career. Still, 19 goals in a season for a mid-table side was a remarkable feat.
8. Antonio Di Natale (Serie A Top Scorer 2009–10 & 2010–11, Udinese)
- Goals: 29 (2009–10), 28 (2010–11)
- Club: Udinese
- Nationality: Italian
A true club legend, Di Natale was among the most technically gifted players in Italy during his prime. He rejected big club offers to stay loyal to Udinese, where he topped the Serie A scoring charts in back-to-back seasons. Despite his consistency and loyalty, he’s often forgotten in broader European discussions.
7. Mário Jardel (European Golden Shoe winner 1998–99 & 2001–02)
- Goals: 36 (1998–99), 42 (2001–02)
- Club(s): FC Porto, Sporting CP
- Nationality: Brazilian
While most Golden Boot winners come from the top five leagues, Jardel was a rare outlier. His 42 goals in 2001–02 earned him the European Golden Shoe over players from La Liga and the Premier League. Despite his prolific scoring record, personal issues and poor transfers saw him quickly spiral out of top-level football.
6. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Premier League 1998–99 & 2000–01, Leeds United & Chelsea)
- Goals: 18 (1998–99), 23 (2000–01)
- Club(s): Leeds United, Chelsea
- Nationality: Dutch
Hasselbaink won the Premier League Golden Boot twice — first with Leeds and then with Chelsea. Known for his thunderous strikes and aggressive style, he was a consistent performer. However, he’s often overlooked when discussing Premier League greats, possibly because he didn’t win a major trophy in England.
5. Stéphane Guivarc’h (Ligue 1 1996–97 & 1997–98, Auxerre & Rennes)
- Goals: 22 (1996–97), 21 (1997–98)
- Club(s): Auxerre, Rennes
- Nationality: French
Guivarc’h won back-to-back Ligue 1 Golden Boot and was even France’s starting striker in the 1998 World Cup final. Yet, he famously didn’t score a single goal in the tournament and had an underwhelming stint at Newcastle United, which led many to forget his domestic dominance.
4. Grafite (Bundesliga 2008–09, VfL Wolfsburg)
- Goals: 28
- Club: VfL Wolfsburg
- Nationality: Brazilian
Grafite formed a legendary partnership with Edin Džeko, leading Wolfsburg to their first-ever Bundesliga title. His outrageous solo goal against Bayern Munich was voted Germany’s Goal of the Decade (2000–2010). However, his career never really hit similar heights, and he faded into obscurity soon after leaving Wolfsburg.
3. Luca Toni (Serie A 2005–06, Fiorentina)
- Goals: 31
- Club: Fiorentina
- Nationality: Italian
Toni became the first player since Antonio ValentÃn Angelillo (1959) to score over 30 goals in a Serie A season. His old-school, target-man style stood out in a league renowned for tight defences. Despite his incredible season and 2006 World Cup win, Toni is often left out of the conversation when discussing Italy’s greatest forwards. and being a contender of golden boot.
2. Diego Forlán (La Liga 2004–05 & 2008–09, Villarreal & Atlético Madrid)
- Goals: 25 (2004–05), 32 (2008–09)
- Club(s): Villarreal, Atlético Madrid
- Nationality: Uruguayan
After a disappointing spell at Manchester United, Forlán reinvented himself in Spain. He won the Pichichi Trophy twice and even beat Messi and Ronaldo to the Golden Boot in 2008–09. His thunderous long-range shots and intelligent movement made him lethal, but his La Liga achievements are often overshadowed by his international heroics in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
1. Kevin Phillips (Premier League 1999–2000, Sunderland)
- Goals: 30
- Club: Sunderland
- Nationality: English
Kevin Phillips stunned the Premier League in the 1999–2000 season by scoring 30 goals for newly promoted Sunderland. He remains the only Englishman to win the European Golden Boot, beating legends like Andriy Shevchenko and Hernán Crespo that season. Despite this peak, his name is rarely mentioned among England’s top strikers, mainly because he never reached those heights again and played most of his career at mid-table clubs.
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