Gerd Müller Trophy Explained: Iconic Past Winners and Top Contenders Chasing Glory in 2026

The Ballon d'Or ceremony goes far beyond simply naming the best male and female players on the planet. France Football also acknowledges remarkable individual performances, celebrates contributions that extend off the pitch, and honors excellence in particular positions.

Goalkeepers, for instance, have been recognized through the Yashin Trophy since 2019, while the Gerd Müller Trophy gives the world's most lethal attackers yet another accolade to pursue.

But what exactly is the Gerd Müller Trophy?

Here's everything you need to know about the award ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

What is the Gerd Müller Trophy?

The award now known as the Gerd Müller Trophy was launched in 2021 under the name Striker of the Year, also referred to as the Best Striker Award. It was renamed later that same year following the passing of German football legend Gerd Müller in August 2021.

The trophy is presented to the player who nets the most goals for both club and country throughout the previous season.

Who Was Gerd Müller?

Few players in football history have matched Gerd Müller's extraordinary goal-scoring output. The German icon is widely considered one of the greatest strikers to have ever played the game and claimed the Ballon d'Or in 1970.

Renowned for his superb positioning and clinical finishing, Müller was especially dangerous inside the penalty box. He netted 40 Bundesliga goals during the 1971-72 campaign, a record that held until Robert Lewandowski surpassed it with 41 in 2020-21.

Müller also established a stunning benchmark of 85 goals in a single calendar year in 1972. That record went unbroken for four decades before Lionel Messi eclipsed it with 91 goals in 2012.

Despite hanging up his boots in 1981, Müller remains Bayern Munich's and the Bundesliga's all-time top scorer. Only Miroslav Klose has surpassed his tally for Germany, with Klose's 71 goals coming across 137 appearances. Müller, by contrast, scored 68 times in just 62 matches, averaging a remarkable goal every 81 minutes.

Past Winners of the Gerd Müller Trophy

Since its introduction in 2021, the Gerd Müller Trophy has celebrated some of the most prolific goal scorers in world football.

Robert Lewandowski claimed the inaugural award in 2021 following another exceptional scoring season with Bayern Munich, then successfully defended the trophy in 2022. Erling Haaland subsequently took the honor in 2023 after a breathtaking debut campaign with Manchester City.

The 2024 award was shared between Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, who both concluded the previous season with 52 goals for club and country. Viktor Gyökeres became the most recent recipient in 2025 after netting 54 goals for Sporting CP and Sweden.

Gerd Müller Trophy: All Winners

Who Will Win the 2026 Gerd Müller Trophy?

Since the Gerd Müller Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most goals for club and country during the previous season, there is no conventional shortlist of nominees. Instead, the winner is determined purely by the final goals tally and will be revealed at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday, Oct. 26.

Harry Kane is poised to claim the award after finishing the 2025-26 season as the world's leading scorer. The Bayern Munich striker netted a remarkable 73 goals for club and country.