1978 World Cup Golden Boot Winner: Mario Kempes
Quick answer: Mario Kempes won the 1978 World Cup Golden Boot with 6 goals for Argentina.
The 1978 World Cup Golden Boot winner was Mario Kempes at Argentina 1978. Argentina 🇦🇷 beat Netherlands 🇳🇱 to win the tournament.
1978 Golden Boot at a Glance
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Golden Boot winner | Mario Kempes |
| Country | Argentina |
| Goals | 6 |
| Host nation | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
| World Cup champion | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
| Runners-up | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Teams | 16 |
| Total goals | 102 |
| Matches played | 38 |
Team profile: Argentina · Edition hub: World Cup 1978
1978 World Cup: Tournament Context
Argentina hosted a 16-team tournament with 102 goals across 38 matches. Key storylines from that edition:
- Argentina's first World Cup title
- Mario Kempes was the star
- Controversial 6-0 win over Peru
At Argentina 1978, Mario Kempes led scoring in a 16-team tournament where Argentina 🇦🇷 beat Netherlands 🇳🇱. 102 goals were scored in 38 matches. Four years earlier, Grzegorz Lato won the Golden Boot with 7 at West Germany 1974. At the next finals (Spain 1982), Paolo Rossi topped the charts with 6.
Did the Golden Boot Winner's Country Win the 1978 World Cup?
Yes. Mario Kempes won the Golden Boot and Argentina won the 1978 World Cup — a rare double glory. See players who won Golden Boot and World Cup same year.
Mario Kempes's 6 Goals in Historical Context
6 goals is a strong Golden Boot total — above the historical average (~4–5). Šuker (1998), Salenko (1994) and several modern winners finished on six.
| Tier | Example | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Record | Fontaine 1958 | 13 |
| High modern | Mbappé 2022 | 8 |
| Mario Kempes 1978 | — | 6 |
Golden Boot vs Golden Ball (1978)
The Golden Boot goes to the top scorer. The Golden Ball (best player) is a separate award — do not confuse them when searching "1978 world cup golden boot winner". For 1978, focus on Mario Kempes and 6 goals as the official top-scorer answer.
Nearby Editions
1974 Golden Boot (Grzegorz Lato) · 1982 Golden Boot (Paolo Rossi)
Frequently Asked Questions
1978 world cup golden boot winner
Mario Kempes with 6 goals.
who won the golden boot in 1978 world cup
Mario Kempes (6 goals) for Argentina.
1978 world cup top scorer
Mario Kempes — 6 goals.
golden boot 1978 world cup
Mario Kempes, 6 goals.
How many goals did the 1978 Golden Boot winner score?
6.
Who won the 1978 World Cup?
Argentina — see World Cup 1978.
Did Mario Kempes win the World Cup in 1978?
Yes. Mario Kempes won the Golden Boot and Argentina won the 1978 World Cup — a rare double glory. See players who won Golden Boot and World Cup same year.