5 most unexpected Golden Boot winners at the Euros

Patrick Kluivert won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020
Patrick Kluivert won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020

#3 Tomas Brolin - 3 goals (Euro 1992)

Tomas Brolin
Tomas Brolin

Tomas Brolin had a great outing at Euro 1992. He was the star of an impressive Sweden team that secured a win on the last day of the group stage over England to seal a semi-final spot.

He scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute after a great move by Sweden. However, due to injury, the highly-rated star was forced to retire at the age of 28.

Brolin also scored in Sweden's semi-final loss to Germany. Earlier, he scored thrice in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where Sweden finished third.


#2 Milan Baros - 5 goals (Euro 2004)

Milan Baros
Milan Baros

The only active player on our list is Milan Baros, though the Czech international only plays at an amateur level now. Baros was the top scorer at the 2004 Euros, where the Czech Republic reached the semi-final of the competition for the fifth time.

He found the back of the net five times to become the outright top scorer at the tournament. After a brace in the quarter-final, Baros failed to score in the semis as Czech Republic were eliminated by eventual champions Greece.

Baros announced his international retirement in 2012. Nine years later, Patrik Schick emulated Baros' feat of scoring five times at a single edition of the Euros.


#1 Patrick Kluivert - 5 goals (Euro 2000)

Patrick Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the Euro 2000 quarter-final.
Patrick Kluivert scored a hat-trick in the Euro 2000 quarter-final.

EURO 2000 was the last edition of the continental tournament in which the Golden Boot award was shared between multiple players. Since that tournament, the award was given to a single player after the criteria for the Golden Boot award was changed.

One of the players who left his mark with impressive performances at Euro 2000 was Netherlands' legendary forward Patrick Kluivert. The former Barcelona striker scored five goals in five appearances, including a hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Yugoslavia in the quarter-final.

Though he was already a known name across Europe, Kluivert reinforced his reputation as an effective finisher. Many expected the likes of Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet or even Zinedine Zidane to win the Golden Boot at Euro 2000, but it went to the then 24-year-old Kluivert.

You may also like: The 10 highest-paid goalkeepers in the world.

Quick Links

Edited by Bhargav
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications