The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be a thrilling tournament as Australia and New Zealand take on co-hosting duties for the first time.
Alongside the battle for team glory, there are also a some key individual awards on offer, as the biggest stars in women’s football take centre-stage Down Under.
The Golden Boot is a notable and, if recent history is anything to go by, competitive prize: recent tournaments have seen the award won by a low-key final goal tally.
The past three Golden Boots have been secured with a maximum of six goals scored. Will anyone get close to Michelle Akers’ single-tournament record this year?
MORE: Who has played in most Women’s World Cups?
Women’s World Cup top goal scorers 2023
Updated as of July 26
Rank
Player
Team
Goals
(Penalties)
Assists
Matches
Minutes
Played
1.
Ary Borges
Brazil
3 (0)
1
1
75
2.
Sophia Smith
USA
2 (0)
1
2
180
Jennifer Hermoso
Spain
2 (0)
1
2
180
Lindsey Horan
USA
2 (0)
0
2
180
Alba Redondo
Spain
2 (0)
0
2
72
Alexandra Popp
Germany
2 (0)
0
1
83
Hinata Miyazawa
Japan
2 (0)
0
2
120
8.
Esther Gonzalez
Spain
1 (0)
0
1
63
Klara Buhl
Germany
1 (0)
1
1
64
Ramona Bachmann
Switzerland
1 (1)
0
1
70
Hannah Wilkinson
N. Zealand
1 (0)
0
1
86
Seraina Piubel
Switzerland
1 (0)
0
1
89
Steph Catley
Australia
1 (1)
0
1
90
Aitana Bonmati
Spain
1 (0)
0
1
90
Mina Tanaka
Japan
1 (0)
1
1
66
Jun Endo
Japan
1 (0)
1
1
77
Riko Ueki
Japan
1(1)
0
1
33
Georgia Stanway
England
1(1)
0
1
90
Amalie Vangsgaard
Denmark
1(0)
0
1
5
Hildah Magaia
South Africa
1(0)
0
1
56
Frida Rolfo
Sweden
1(0)
0
1
67
Amanda Ilestedt
Sweden
1(0)
0
1
90
Stefanie van der Gragt
Netherlands
1(0)
0
1
90
Cristiana Girelli
Italy
1(0)
0
1
7
Lea Schuller
Germany
1(0)
0
1
25
Bia Zaneratto
Brazil
1(0)
0
1
60
Catalina Usme
Colombia
1(1)
0
1
90
Linda Caicedo
Colombia
1(0)
0
1
90
Sarina Bolden
Philippines
1(0)
0
2
164
Aoba Fujino
Japan
1(0)
1
2
136
Hikaru Naomoto
Japan
1(0)
0
2
87
Teresa Abelleira
Spain
1(0)
0
2
167
Katie McCabe
Rep. of Ireland
1(0)
0
2
180
Adriana Leon
Canada
1(0)
0
2
125
Jill Roord
Netherlands
1(0)
0
2
180
Telma Encarnacao
Portugal
1(0)
1
2
85
Francisca Nazareth
Portugal
1(0)
0
2
45
Emily van Egmond
Australia
1(0)
0
2
105
Uchenna Kanu
Nigeria
1(0)
0
2
80
Osinachi Ohale
Nigeria
1(0)
0
2
180
Asisat Oshoala
Nigeria
1(0)
0
2
115
Alanna Kennedy
Australia
1(0)
0
2
180
Linda Motlhalo
South Africa
1(0)
0
2
150
Thembi Kgatlana
South Africa
1(0)
1
2
173
Sophie Braun
Argentina
1(0)
0
2
180
Romina Nunez
Argentina
1(0)
0
2
122
Own goals: 4 players
Women’s World Cup Golden Boot 2023 contenders
Heading into the tournament, the most eye-catching aspect of the Golden Boot race is the battle between experience and emerging stars.
USNWT veteran Alex Morgan is tipped to fire the defending champions through the tournament and add to her nine previous World Cup goals, although she missed a penalty in the opening win over Vietnam.
Other experienced names join Morgan on the list of strong options to win the Golden Boot in 2023, with England’s Rachel Daly predicted to be the key forward for the Lionesses, and Brazil’s Ary Borges emerging as the early leader after scoring a hat trick in Brazil’s 4-0 group stage win over Panama.
However, there is a growing sense of a new name being added to the list and a break from the traditional nations dominating the award.
The USA, Germany and Brazil have traditionally produced the winner in previous World Cups, but the list of favourites for 2023 includes star names from Spain and Australia.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is a strong option, despite not playing as an outright forward, alongside Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso.
Australia star Sam Kerr could also be a bold call, but a pre-tournament injury has dented her chances on the back of a sensational 12 months for the Chelsea striker.
Women’s World Cup Golden Boot 2023 odds
*Odds correct as of July 22
Player
Nation
SkyBet
Sophia Smith
USA
3/1
Alex Morgan
USA
5/1
Rachel Daly
England
12/1
Esther Gonzalez
Spain
12/1
Alexandra Popp
Germany
16/1
Golden Boot tiebreakers
FIFA rules over Golden Boot tiebreakers come into play if more than one player has scored the same amount of goals at the end of the tournament.
In that instance, assists per player will be used as the first tiebreaker, followed by the player to have scored and assisted the most goals within the least amount of playing time.
Most goals scored in a single Women’s World Cup
Year
Player
Country
Goals
1991
Michelle Akers
USA
10
1991
Heidi Mohr
Germany
7
1999
Sun Wen
China
7
1999
Sissi
Brazil
7
2003
Birgit Prinz
Germany
7
2007
Marta
Brazil
7
Women’s World Cup Golden Boot winners
Across eight editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, no player has won the Golden Boot on more than one occasion.
USA’s Michelle Akers holds the record for most goals in single a tournament, scoring 10 at the inaugural 1991 World Cup.
Brazilian legend Marta, who is the all-time top scorer at Women’s World Cups, won the Golden Boot in 2007, which Germany ended up winning.
Megan Rapinoe won the award at the last World Cup in 2019.
Year
Host
Player
Nation
Goals
1991
China
Michelle Akers
USA
10
1995
Sweden
Ann Kristin Aarones
Norway
6
1999
USA
Sun Wen / Sissi
China/Brazil
7
2003
USA
Birgit Prinz
Germany
7
2007
China
Marta
Brazil
7
2011
Germany
Homare Sawa
Japan
5
2015
Canada
Celia Sasic
Germany
6
2019
France
Megan Rapinoe
USA
6
Who has scored most Women’s World Cup goals in history?
Marta leads the way at the top of the all-time Women’s World Cup goal list with 17, and she has the chance to build on that in 2023.
Player
Nation
World Cup goals
Marta
Brazil
17
Birgit Prinz
Germany
14
Abby Wambach
USA
14
Michelle Akers
USA
12
Cristiane
Brazil
11
Wen Sun
China
11
Bettina Wiegmann
Germany
11
Ann-Kristin Aarones
Norway
10
Carli Lloyd
USA
10
Heidi Mohr
Germany
10
Christine Sinclair
Canada
10
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