Golden Boot Winner to Be Unveiled Thursday
The International Rugby League will announce the award ahead of the World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Soccer
The International Rugby League will unveil the Golden Boot winner at a ceremony on Thursday, days before the World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand. The ceremony doubles as a Hall of Legends announcement.
Why it matters
The Golden Boot honors the tournament's top performer, and the ceremony timing places the award in the spotlight just before the final. The award has focused solely on international performances since 2018.
Reece Walsh has appeared in three of Australia's four World Cup games, while Kalyn Ponga has played two matches for New Zealand. The shortlist of five players will be narrowed to one winner at Thursday's ceremony.
The players
International Rugby League
The International Rugby League is the global governing body responsible for organizing the Rugby League World Cup and its individual awards.
Reece Walsh
Reece Walsh is an Australian rugby league player and a leading contender for the tournament's top-scorer award.
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga is a New Zealand rugby league player and one of the leading contenders for the Golden Boot.
The details
The shortlist includes Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga, Robert Toia, Francis Manuleleua and Casey McLean. Walsh hit a hat-trick in the World Cup semi-final against Samoa, while Ponga broke his arm during the tournament and returned three weeks later.
Timeline
2018: The Golden Boot shifted to focus solely on international performances.
Last weekend: Walsh scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against Samoa.
Thursday: The Golden Boot winner will be unveiled at a ceremony.
Season Trajectory
The Golden Boot has followed an international-only format since 2018, when the award was restricted to World Cup performances. This year's selection continues that structure, placing the award firmly within the tournament's international competition.
Fantasy and tournament observers can track which shortlisted player wins, since Walsh and Ponga are widely expected to take the award. The result will be settled at Thursday's ceremony before the final.
The takeaway
The Golden Boot's shift to international-only performances since 2018 keeps the award focused on what happens at the World Cup itself. Watch Thursday's ceremony for the winner before the final.
What happens next
The Golden Boot winner will be unveiled at a ceremony on Thursday, followed by the World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand.
Further reading
Explore more Soccer coverage for context on international tournament awards.
