The Golden Boot Award in FIFA World Cup Football

The Golden Boot Award in FIFA World Cup Football

First Golden Boot Winner-Paolo Rossi

   The Golden Boot Award is given for the top scorer of a certain FIFA World Cup tournament and it is start to given from the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Currently, this award is commercially named as "Adidas Golden Boot". But, previously this Golden Boot was known as the "Adidas Golden Shoe" from 1982 to 2006 World Cup. From 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, this top scorer’s award is named as “Adidas Golden Boot”.

   This award was first introduced along with the “Golden Ball Award (best player in the certain World Cup)” in 1982 World Cup, and Italian Paolo Rossi got this award for the first time (Italian Paolo Rossi got the Golden Ball and Golden Boot award in the 1982 FIFA World Cup). This award is given by FIFA at the conclusion of each World Cup tournament. Those who finish as runners-up in the tournament receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball awards as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament respectively.

Gerd Muller-An Extreme Striker

Gerd Muller-An Extreme Striker

Gerd Muller

   Gerhard "Gerd" Muller (German pronunciation) was one of the greatest German soccer player ever. He is also called “Der Bomber” in Germany and he was born 3 November 1945 in Nordlingen, Germany. He was the highest goal scorer in the FIFA World Cup, before Brazilian Ronaldo. He was a creative striker renowned for his clinical finishing, especially inside the penalty box area. He is regarded as one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time.

   In his football careear, Gerd Muller played for West Germany and he scored 68 goals in 62 appearances in International level. And in his professional football life at club level, after fifteen years with Bayern Munich, he scored a record 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and an international record of 66 goals in 74 European club games. This world famous German striker scored averaging more than a goal a game with West Germany. Gerd Muller was named European Footballer of the Year in 1970 after a successful season at Bayern Munich and he was the first German to win that award. He also got the West German Footballer of the Year for two times (1967 and 1969).