The Gerd Muller Trophy honors the legendary German striker Gerd Muller and is presented to the top goal scorer from the previous European season, encompassing both club and national team performances.
History of the Gerd Muller Trophy
Established in 2021 during the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which celebrates the premier football talent in Europe, the trophy recognizes exceptional achievement in the sport. Erling Haaland became the second player to receive this distinguished award, following Robert Lewandowski, the recipient in both 2021 and 2022.
Erling Haaland showed his exceptional talent in the 2022/23 season, earning the award for the highest-scoring male player with an impressive total of 56 goals for both City and Norway. His remarkable performance just edged out Kylian Mbappe, who also had an outstanding season with 55 goals for Paris Saint-Germain and France.
Müller was the first German to earn the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1970, a title that was then known as the European Footballer of the Year. He is firmly established as Bayern's all-time leading scorer, with an astounding 566 goals in just 607 appearances. His accolades include three consecutive European Cups, the Intercontinental Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup, and four Bundesliga titles. On the international stage, Müller notched 68 goals in 62 caps for Germany, demonstrating his prowess by winning the World Cup in 1974 and the European Championship in 1972.
Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss winning the Award
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an impressive 50 goals in 23/24 and was one of the front runners to bag the prestigious Gerd Muller trophy this year at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony. However, according to recent reports, it is revealed that FIFA removed this award from the Ballon d'Or award ceremony, which has sparked substantial controversy, especially amongst Cristiano Ronaldo fans.
The Gerd Muller Trophy is given to the top striker from the Europe circuit and also encompasses contributions made in national colours. Hence, in the case of Ronaldo, even if he scored a record number of goals for his club, he still was not eligible to win the trophy.