Each season's FA Cup top goalscorer this century

The FA Cup has produced countless memorable moments since the turn of the millennium, with various players shining in front of goal. From Premier League stars to lower-league strikers, the FA Cup’s top scorers have come from all levels of English football. Some fired their teams deep into the competition, while others shone in the early rounds. Here, we'll take a look at each season's top goalscorer.

Chelsea’s Gustavo Poyet was the FA Cup’s top scorer with six goals in 1999-00. His most crucial contributions came in the semi-final, where he netted twice in a 2-1 win over Newcastle to earn the West Londoners their spot in the last final at the Old Wembley. Chelsea beat Aston Villa 1-0 to win their third FA Cup title.

Arsenal’s Sylvain Wiltord and Cardiff City’s Robert Earnshaw both finished as joint top scorers. Wiltord helped Arsenal reach the final, but the Gunners lost 2-1 to Liverpool, with Michael Owen scoring twice late on. Earnshaw, meanwhile, was prolific in the early part of the competition for Cardiff before they exited in the third round.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Mansfield Town’s Chris Greenacre (right) and Cheltenham Town’s Tony Naylor both netted five goals. Their cup journeys ended in the early rounds, with neither side making a deep run. Arsenal won the FA Cup that season, beating Chelsea 2-0 in the final as part of their domestic double.

Nigel Jemson led the scoring charts with five goals for Shrewsbury Town. His standout moment came when he scored twice in a famous 2-1 upset against Everton in the third round. Shrewsbury were eliminated in the next round by Chelsea, while Arsenal lifted the trophy with a 1-0 victory over Southampton.

Barnes and Taylor impressed for lower-league sides, but it was Ruud van Nistelrooy (left) who had the biggest impact. The Dutch striker played a key role in Manchester United’s run to the final, where they comfortably beat Millwall 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium thanks in no small part to a Van Nistelrooy brace.

Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) finished as the FA Cup’s top scorer with four goals in 2004-05, level with Peter Crouch (Southampton) and Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur). The Portuguese played a key role in Manchester United’s campaign, including scoring in the semi-final win against Newcastle. However, the Red Devils lost the final on penalties after a goalless draw, with Arsenal securing the trophy.

Three players shared the golden boot in 2005-06, but Paul Hayes (Barnsley) and Steve Basham (Oxford United) didn't make it past the early rounds. Neil Danns (pictured) reached the fifth round with Colchester United, where he was ultimately eliminated by Chelsea. The FA Cup final that year was a classic, as Liverpool defeated West Ham on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw.

In 2006-07, Frank Lampard (right) led the scoring with six goals for Chelsea, playing a vital role in their cup run. Although he didn’t score in the final, Didier Drogba’s extra-time goal secured a 1-0 win over Manchester United, delivering Chelsea their fourth FA Cup title.

Craig Mackail-Smith (right) was on fire for Peterborough United in 2007-08, scoring seven goals in the early rounds. However, his side couldn't make it past the third round after losing to West Brom. The FA Cup that year was won by Portsmouth, who defeated Cardiff City 1-0 in the final, thanks to a goal from Nwankwo Kanu.

Five players—Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Matty Fryatt (Leicester City), Gary Hooper (Scunthorpe United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal) and Craig Westcarr (Kettering Town)—each scored four goals in the competition. None of them reached the final, with their teams exiting in various rounds. Chelsea won the cup, beating Everton 2-1 in the final, with goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

Aston Villa’s John Carew (left) had an impressive FA Cup run, scoring six times and helping his team reach the semi-finals in 2009-10. However, Villa were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea, who went on to defeat Portsmouth 1-0 in the final. Didier Drogba’s free-kick secured Chelsea’s second consecutive domestic double.

McGleish (right) and Manset, playing for Leyton Orient and Hereford United, respectively, both found the net six times. Orient got as far as the fifth round, where they were eliminated by Arsenal after a replay. Manchester City lifted the FA Cup that season, winning 1-0 against Stoke City in the final, courtesy of a Yaya Touré goal.

Leicester City’s Jermaine Beckford enjoyed a prolific cup run, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against rivals Nottingham Forest (pictured). However, his side exited in the sixth round to eventual winners Chelsea. The Blues beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley, with goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.

Danny Hylton was the standout scorer with eight goals for Aldershot Town, netting frequently in the early rounds. However, his side were eliminated in the fourth round by Middlesbrough, even though he scored in that game (pictured). In a historic final, Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City 1-0, with Ben Watson scoring a late header to win their first-ever FA Cup.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

In the 2013-14 FA Cup, three players shared the golden boot with five goals apiece: Peterborough United's Britt Assombalonga (pictured), Sam Clucas (Mansfield Town), and Joe Garner (Preston North End). Despite their efforts, none of their teams managed to progress past the fourth round. Arsenal claimed the trophy, defeating Hull City 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling final.

West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino (left), Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) and Jon Stead (Bradford City) were the top scorers in the 2014-15 FA Cup, each netting five goals. WBA and Bradford made it as far as the sixth round, but it was Arsenal who successfully defended their title, defeating Aston Villa 4-0 in the final.

Matěj Vydra was the top scorer in the 2015-16 FA Cup with six goals. His goals helped Reading reach the last 16, where they were defeated by Crystal Palace. Manchester United won the competition that year, defeating Palace 2-1 in the final after extra time, with Jesse Lingard scoring the winner.

The 2016-17 FA Cup saw Adam Morgan (Curzon Ashton) and Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) share the top scorer title with six goals. Morgan’s side were eliminated in the second round, while Son's Spurs made it to the semi-finals. Arsenal lifted the trophy that year, defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the final, with goals from Alexis Sánchez and Aaron Ramsey.

Will Grigg led the FA Cup scoring charts in 2017-18 with seven goals, spearheading Wigan Athletic’s giant-killing run. His most memorable moment came in the fifth round when he scored the winner against Manchester City. However, Wigan bowed out in the quarter-finals. Chelsea won the competition, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final, with Eden Hazard converting a penalty.

Padraig Amond (Newport County) and Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) both finished as top scorers with five goals. Amond helped Newport County reach the fifth round, upsetting Leicester City along the way before losing to Manchester City. Jesus, meanwhile, played a key role in City's dominant FA Cup run, even getting on the scoresheet in the final. Manchester City won the competition with a 6-0 victory over Watford, securing a domestic treble.

Carlisle United's Harry McKirdy (left, scoring in the third-round replay defeat to Cardiff City) and James Ball (Solihull Moors) both netted five goals in the early rounds but could not carry their sides beyond the third round. The final saw Arsenal defeat Chelsea 2-1, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice to secure the Gunners’ 14th FA Cup triumph.

Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho (pictured right), Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Gary Madine (Blackpool), Alfie May (Cheltenham Town) and Tom Nichols (Crawley Town) each finished the 2020-21 campaign with four goals. Iheanacho’s goals were crucial in Leicester City's historic cup run, scoring twice in the semi-final against Southampton. In the final, Youri Tielemans’ stunning strike secured a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, giving Leicester their first-ever FA Cup win.

Adam Boyes, playing for Northern Premier League side Marske United, scored an astonishing 11 goals in the early rounds. His prolific form helped Marske progress, but they were eventually eliminated before the competition's later stages. The 2021-22 FA Cup was won by Liverpool, who defeated Chelsea in a penalty shootout after a goalless final at Wembley.

Wrexham’s Paul Mullin was the standout scorer of the 2022-23 FA Cup, netting eight goals during their impressive run. The National League side shocked Coventry City before bowing out to Sheffield United in a thrilling fourth-round replay. Manchester City went on to win the FA Cup, defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the final, as part of their historic treble-winning season.

In 2023-24, Ellis Simms and Sammie Szmodics shared the golden boot with six goals apiece for Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers, respectively. After surviving a scare in the semi-finals against Coventry, a game in which Simms scored (pictured), Manchester United lifted the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 2-1 in a dramatic final, securing their first cup win since 2016.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!