a multi - part piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper piston part having a piston crown , and a lower piston part . the lower piston part has pin boss supports and pin bosses connected with them and the upper piston part and the lower piston part each have an inner and an outer support element , which elements delimit an outer circumferential cooling channel . the inner support elements delimit a cavity that is open toward the pin bosses . the cavity has a separate cooling oil collector that has at least one cooling oil opening . the piston is produced by manufacturing the upper piston part and lower piston part , inserting the cooling oil collector into the upper piston part or lower piston part , and joining the upper and lower piston parts together by friction welding .