The most prestigious event in women's football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, has the top players from across the globe competing for the ultimate prize. Since 1991, FIFA has given the Golden Boot to each season's top goal scorer based on total goals scored, with assists and playing time used to break ties. The Golden Boot is a prized award that honours a player's skill and effectiveness in scoring goals. The Golden Boot winners of every FIFA Women's World Cup edition will be discussed in this article, along with their accomplishments and contributions to the game.
Michelle Akers
In 1991, China hosted the first FIFA Women's World Cup, which featured 12 teams. After beating Norway 2-1 in the championship game, the United States was declared the victor. Michelle Akers was the tournament's standout player; she established an all-time record by scoring 10 goals in just six games. In the quarterfinal match against Chinese Taipei, she scored five goals, including four in the opening period. She also scored twice against Norway in the championship game. Akers received the Golden Boot for the most goals scored throughout the competition, as well as the Golden Ball for the best player.
Ann-Kristin Aarones
In 1995, Sweden hosted the second FIFA Women's World Cup, which included the same 12 nations. Hege Riise and Marianne Pettersen scored goals in the final as Norway defeated Germany 2-0 to avenge their loss to Germany in the 1991 match. Ann-Kristin Aarones of Norway led all scorers with six goals in six games, which made her the tournament's best scorer. A hat-trick against Nigeria in the group stage and a brace against England in the quarterfinals were among the goals she scored in every match other than the championship game. As the tournament's leading scorer, Aarones received the Golden Boot.
Sissi and Sun Wen
In 1999, the United States hosted the third FIFA Women's World Cup, which featured 16 teams for the first time. An exciting championship match between the hosts and China ended scoreless after extra time and required a penalty shootout. Brandi Chastain's winning penalty kick helped the USA defeat the opposition 5-4 in the shootout. Sissi of Brazil and Sun Wen of China tied for the most goals scored in the competition with seven each in six games. They each scored a penalty and a free kick against Ghana during the group stage, giving them a combined four goals. In the semifinal match against Norway, they also scored twice, with Sun Wen scoring on an incredible volley from outside the area. In addition to being nominated for the Golden Ball as the finest players of the competition, Sissi and Sun Wen also shared the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorers.
Birgit Prinz
Originally slated to take place in China once more, the fourth FIFA Women's World Cup was abruptly relocated to the United States owing to the SARS pandemic. Nia Künzer's overtime game-winning goal helped Germany defeat Sweden 2-1 to win the championship for the first time. Birgit Prinz led the tournament in scoring with seven goals and one assist in six games for Germany. Including a hat-trick against Argentina in the group stage and a brace against Russia in the quarterfinals, she scored in every match other than the championship match. She also headed across the goal to assist Künzer in scoring the game-winning goal. Prinz received the Golden Boot for the most goals scored throughout the competition, as well as the Golden Ball for the best player. Additionally, in 2003, she received the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.
Marta
In 2007, China hosted the fifth FIFA Women's World Cup, which included the same 16 teams. Brazil made it to their first final but fell to Germany, the first team to win the tournament again, 2-0. Marta led the competition in scoring with seven goals and two assists in six games for Brazil. Her goals included a hat-trick against New Zealand in the group stage and a brace against the USA in the semifinals. She scored in every match until the championship game. She also wowed the crowd with her inventiveness and skilled dribbling. Marta received the Golden Boot for the most goals scored throughout the competition, as well as the Golden Ball for the best player.
Homare Sawa (Japan) / Marta (Brazil) / Abby Wambach (USA, 2011)
In 2011, Germany hosted the sixth FIFA Women's World Cup, which included the same 16 teams. After a 2-2 deadlock in extra time, Japan defeated the USA 3-1 on penalties to win the championship for the first time in Asian history. Homare Sawa of Japan, Marta of Brazil, and Abby Wambach of the USA all scored five goals and contributed one assist in six games to finish the tournament as the top scorers. They all scored in four straight games, with Sawa scoring three goals against Mexico in the group stage and a key equalizer for the USA in the final's extra time. Additionally, she scored on her penalty in the shootout. In addition to Sawa earning the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition, Marta, Wambach, and Sawa shared the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorers. In 2011 she received the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.
Celia Sasic
In 2015, Canada hosted the seventh FIFA Women's World Cup, which featured 24 teams for the first time. The USA defeated Japan 5-2 to win their third championship. Celia Sasic led all scorers at the competition with six goals and one assist in five games for Germany. In addition to a hat-trick against Ivory Coast in the group stage and a brace against France in the quarterfinals, she scored in every game she played. She also converted one penalty against the USA in the semifinals, but she also missed one that may have altered the result. Sasic received the Golden Boot for the most goals scored throughout the competition.
Megan Rapinoe (USA) / Alex Morgan (USA) / Ellen White
In 2019, France hosted the eighth FIFA Women's World Cup, which included the same 24 teams. With a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands, the USA successfully defended their championship. Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Ellen White of the USA and England were the top scorers in the competition with a combined total of six goals and three assists in six games. They all scored in four straight games, with Rapinoe scoring twice on penalties against Spain and France in the quarterfinals and round of 16 respectively. She also assisted Rose Lavelle on her goal in the championship game and scored the game's first goal from a penalty. In the group stage, Morgan scored five goals against Thailand. In the semifinal match versus England, she also scored the game-winning goal. With the exception of the third-place game, White scored every time he played, including twice against Japan in the group stage and once more against Norway in the quarterfinals. As the tournament's leading scorers, Rapinoe, Morgan, and White all shared the Golden Boot, with Rapinoe taking it home on the basis of playing less minutes.
