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With the FIFA World Cup now almost upon us, we will look at the top 5 best Golden boot award winners in the history of the World Cup.
#5 Guillermo Stabille, Ademir, Ronaldo
Argentinas Guillermo Stabille was the first to score 8 goals in a World Cup in 1930 followed by Brazils Ademir in 1950 and Ronaldo in 2002.
Stabille scored a hat-trick on his debut for Argentina in the 1930 World Cup in a group stagewin over Mexico. He went to score a brace in his next match as Argentina beat Chile 3-1 which meant Argentina qualified for the semi-final against the USA.
Sabille scored another brace as they breezed past USA winning6-1. Argentina then faced Uruguay in the first ever World Cup final on July 10, 1930 where Sabille scored his 8thgoal of the campaign. Argentina lost the match 4-2. Sabille scored 8 goals in just 4 matches.
Ademir was one of Brazils key players in Brazils 1950 campaign where he scored 8 goals in 6 matches including a brace against Mexico in the opening match and4 goals against Sweden in the first round finals.The campaign ended disastrously for him as Brazil went on to lose the final to Uruguay in what is footballs greatest ever upset.
52 years later, Brazil had won 4 World Cups and were looking for their fifth after a disappointing qualifying campaign. Ronaldo came back to play his 2ndWorld Cup after an injury that was nearly career ending. Hescored in every match of the World Cup except in the quarterfinal against England. In the final against Germany, he scored both goals in a 2-0 win for Brazil.
He won the Golden Boot and was named in the FIFA All-star team alongside teammates Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
#4 Eusebio - 1966
Portugal faced Hungary, Bulgaria and reigning champions Brazil in the group stages of the 1966 World Cup. After failing to score in Portugals 3-1 win over Hungary, Eusebio opened his account for Portugal against Bulagria scoring one goal in a 3-0 win and followed it up with a brace against Brazil asPortugal won 3-1.
His performance in the quarter-final match against North Korea where he inspired a 5-3 comeback win after scoring 4 consecutive goals is probably his best ever. He scored the only goal in Portugals 2-1 loss to England in the semifinal.
His goal ended Englands record of 7 consecutive clean sheets. Eusebio famously walked off the pitch in tears after the game which is known asJogo das Lgrimas(Game of Tears) in Portugal. Eusebio then scored his final goal in the third place play-off against Soviet Union which Portugal won 2-1 to achieve their best ever performance in the World Cup.
| Match | Stage | Goals Scored |
| Hungary vs Portugal | Group | 0 |
| Portugal vs Bulgaria | Group | 1 |
| Portugal vs Brazil | Group | 2 |
| Korea DPRvs Portugal | Quarter-finals | 4 |
| Portugal vs England | Semi-finals | 1 |
| Portugal vs Soviet Union | Third place decider | 1 |
#3 Gerd Muller - 1970
Nicknamed Der Bomberfor his goal-scoring exploits, Gerd Muller was the World-Cups all-time top goalscorer with 14 goals in two World Cups until Brazilian Ronaldo beat it in 2006. He scored 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany.
In the 1970 World Cup, he scored 10 goals in 6 matches including two successive hat-tricks against Peru and Bulgaria in the group stages. West Germany then faced England and were trailing 2-0 before Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler equlised for the Germans and Muller struck a beautiful volley in extra time to seal the win.
West Germany then faced Italy in the semi-final in the Match of the Centurywhich sawMueller score two goals in extra-time to make it 3-3 before Italy finally ended up winning 4-3. He failed to score in the third place play-off against Uruguay.
Muller finally had his World Cup winners medal in 1974 after scoring the winner against Netherlands in a 2-1 win for West Germany in the final.
| Match | Stage | Goals Scored |
| Germany FR vs Morocco | Group | 1 |
| Germany FR vs Bulgaria | Group | 3 |
| Germany FR vs Peru | Group | 3 |
| Germany FR vs England | Quarter-finals | 1 |
| Italy vs Germany FR | Semi-finals | 2 |
| Uruguay vs Germany FR | Third Place decider | 0 |
#2 Sandor Kocsis - 1954
Hungarys Sandor Kocsis has an incredible record of scoring 75 goals in 68 international appearances. He was dubbed as The Man with the Golden Headfor his superbheaded goals. He also scored 7 hat-tricks for Hungary, a feat that hasnt been achieved since.
He was a key member of the Hungarian squad that had remained unbeaten since 1950 and started his World Cup campaign by scoring a hat-trick against South Korea as Hungary cruised to a 9-0 win. He then scored 4 goals in an 8-3 demolition of West Germany, who had fielded a reserve side ahead of their play-off.
Hungary then played Brazil in the quarter-final in what is famously known as The Battle of Berne which saw Hungary win 4-2 in a violent match that had 42 free kicks, 4 yellow cards and 3 red cards. Kocsis scored twice in that match and added another brace as he scored in extra time to give Hungary a 4-2 win against reigning champions Uruguay in the semi-final.
They lost the final to West Germany who made a brilliant comeback to win the match 3-2 and Kocsis failed to score.
| Match | Stage | Goals Scored |
| Hungary vs Korea Republic | Group | 3 |
| Hungary vs Germany FR | Group | 4 |
| Hungary vs Brazil | Quarter-finals | 2 |
| Hungary vs Uruguay | Semi-finals | 2 |
| Germany FR vs Hungary | Final | 0 |
#1 Just Fontaine - 1958
Just Fontaines participation was not certain after making only 5 appearances for France before the 1958 World Cup and when he arrived in Sweden, he had scored only 1 goal in 53 months for Les Bleus.
Not much was expected fromhim in Sweden, but he formed a deadly partnershipwith Kopa and scored in all six matches, starting with a hat-trick against Paraguay. He then scored twice in Frances defeat to Yugoslavia and added another against Scotland to put France in the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals, France brushed past a tired Northern Ireland with Fontaine scoring a brace in a 4-0 win,with hissecond probably his most memorable goal. France then faced favourites Brazil in the semi-finals and were torn apart 5-2 but Fontaine still managed to score a goal.
His performance against West Germany in the third place play-off is regarded as one of the best in history as he scored 4 goals in Frances 6-3 win and was carried off the field by his team-mates.
Heholds the yet unbeaten record for scoring 13 goals in just 6 World Cup matches. Although he didnt receive a Golden Boot after that tournament (the award didnt exist back then), he is set to recieve one before the start of this years World Cup.
| Match | Stage | Goals Scored |
| France vs Paraguay | Group | 3 |
| Yugoslavia vs France | Group | 2 |
| France vs Scotland | Group | 1 |
| Northern Ireland vs France | Quarter-finals | 2 |
| Brazil vs France | Semi-finals | 1 |
| France vs Germany FR | Third Place decider | 4 |
