Eusébio: second Golden Boot won with 40 goals

Paris, October 29th, 1973. 44 years ago, Eusébio received, for the second time in his career, the Golden Boot award, which honors the top goal scorer of all European leagues.

The Black Panther was the king in the Olympus of the goal, surpassing another great scorer, the Germanic Gerd Müller, of whom he would become friend. In a league where Benfica excelled, finishing as National Champion with 28 wins and two draws in 30 games, Eusébio participated in "only" 28 of the 30 matches, enough to be the top goal scorer of the Old Continent.

Trophy created in 1967/68 by L’Équipe, the first big winner of the Golden Boot was also the striker who represented Benfica from 1960/61 to 1974/75. In that season he scored 43 goals. Nowadays, and since 1996/97, the award is granted by European Sports Media. In that same season begun the point rule for the attribution, based on the ranking of Championships in UEFA.

Great forwards – apart from Eusébio – have won the award, such as Gerd Müller, Marco van Basten, Ian Rush, Hugo Sánchez, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi or Suárez. 

THE TEAMS THAT CONCEDED THE 40 GOALS FROM EUSÉBIO IN THE 1972/73 CHAMPIONSHIP

Montijo 5
Sporting 4
Belenenses 4
Leixões 4
Boavista 3
Beira-Mar 3
U. Coimbra 3
U. Tomar 3
CUF 3
V. Guimarães 3
Farense 2
Atlético 1
V. Setúbal 1
FC Porto 1

Text: Marco Rebelo