Messi and Jairzinho Share Record for Most World Cup Goals Without Winning Golden Boot

Lionel Messi scored seven goals during the 2022 World Cup finals but did not receive the Golden Boot after Kylian Mbappé scored eight goals including a hat-trick in the final. Messi shares the record with Jairzinho of Brazil, who scored seven goals in 1970 while Gerd Müller scored ten for West Germany.

1954, three players each scored six goals but finished behind Sandor Kocsis of Hungary who scored eleven. Pele and Helmut Rahn scored six goals each in 1958 while Just Fontaine scored thirteen for France. Rob Rensenbrink scored five goals at the 1978 tournament and nearly claimed the Golden Boot when a late shot in the final struck the post.

Mohr scored seven goals for Germany in 1991 but finished behind Michelle Akers-Stahl's ten goals. Abby Wambach and Ragnhild Gulbrandsen each scored six goals in 2007 while Marta scored seven. Alex Morgan and Ellen White scored six goals each in 2019 before Megan Rapinoe claimed the Golden Boot on assists.

El Salvador holds the worst goal difference at minus 21 after six matches across two tournaments. Haiti and Panama also finished without points at the 2023 Women's World Cup alongside Vietnam.