Well, claiming a Golden Boot award is often hailed as one of the most decorated achievements for a majority of football players, as it serves as a major testament to their unmatched performances in the tournament and highlights their unbeaten dominance in the game. The glorious history of the game, which spans over decades, has been witness to numerous legendary football players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and many others who have claimed the prestigious Golden Boot award for being the top goalscorers of the tournament.
While it continues to be one of the most far-fetched dreams for a majority of football players to claim the coveted honour even once, a few trailblazing football stars have defied the odds of their age and claimed the honour. Have you ever wondered about the top four oldest football players who have won the Golden Boot award as of May 2026? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four oldest football players who have won the prestigious Golden Boot award as of May 2026.
Top 4 Oldest Golden Boot Award Winners
-
Jamie Richard Vardy – 33 Years, 197 Days
The legendary English professional footballer Jamie Richard Vardy, who plays as a striker for Serie B club Cremonese, is at the first spot on our list. Often hailed as one of the most prominent and successful strikers of his generation, Jamie Vardy created history in the 2019-20 Premier League while playing for Leicester City.
Vardy made a record total of 35 appearances throughout the tournament and scored a spine-chilling total of 23 league goals for his team, leading them to a sensational title victory. At the age of 33 years and 197, Jamie Richard Vardy was honoured with the prestigious Golden Boot honour. As of May 2026, Vardy continues to be the oldest professional football player to have clinched the honour.
-
Didier Drogba – 32 Years
At the second spot in our list we have the iconic Ivorian former professional footballer, Didier Drogba, who played as a striker throughout his glorious international football career which spanned over almost two decades. As of May 2026, Didier Drogba continues to be Chelsea’s fourth-highest goalscorer of all time, and one of the greatest African professional football players in the history of the game.
At the age of thirty-two years, Didier Drogba dominated the 2009-10 Premier League season, and scored a phenomenal total of 29 goals throughout the tournament. Additionally, Drogba also contributed 10 assists in the season, establishing himself as one of the strongest players for Chelsea FC in the 2009-10 edition of the Premier League. The African football sensation, Drogba was felicitated with the coveted Golden Boot for being the highest goal-scorer of the 2008-10 Premier League edition at the age of 32, putting him at the second spot on our list.
-
Dimitar Berbatov – 30 Years
Next, at the third spot on our list, we have the trailblazing Bulgarian former professional footballer Dimitar Berbatov, who played as a striker. Often hailed as one of the most reliable goal-scorers of his generation, Dimitar Berbatov delivered one of the most sensational performances of his career during the 2010-11 Premier League edition where he played for Manchester United.
Berbatov proved to be unstoppable throughout the edition and scored a brilliant total of 20 Premier League goals in 32 appearances, establishing himself as the top goal-scorer of the season. Dimitar Berbatov successfully led Manchester United to their 19th English league title and clinched the coveted Golden Boot honour at the age of 30 years along with Carlos Tevez. As of May 2026, Dimitar Berbatov continues to be the third-oldest football player to claim the prestigious award.
-
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 29 Years
Finally, at the fourth spot on our list, we have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who continues to play as a striker for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Gabon national team. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played for Arsenal during the 2018-19 Premier League edition and scored a total of 22 goals. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was honoured with the Golden Boot award at the age of 29 years, along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, who were also the top goal-scorers of the season.
Read More
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang established himself as the first-ever Arsenal player after Robin van Persie to successfully win the award. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang enormous fame and recognition from millions of fans from all over the world after he displayed his unmatched wrath throughout the 2018-19 Premier League season.
