Even as a kid, I was already pretty sure that I’d never be tall enough to play in the NBA (where the average player’s height is 6’7”) or big enough for the NFL (average weight 245 pounds). But soccer was something else entirely. I could at least dream of going pro, despite being just an average-sized kid.
When I was growing up I always heard Pelé was the greatest of all time; he was a generous 5’8”. Watching Diego Maradona dribbled past five English players to score what has been called the “Goal of the Century”, it’s clear to see how his five-foot-six-inch frame gives him advantages over taller opponents.
Are soccer players short?
There are even more examples of great soccer players who are on the shorter side. Leo Messi recently voted the greatest of all time, famously took growth hormone as a child and is now listed at 5’7”.
On recent World Cup-winning teams, short players have been critical to their teams’ successes. Think of Griezmann for France in 2018, Lahm for Germany, and the midfield of Iniesta and Xavi for Spain in 2010 – not one of those players is taller than 5’9”.
As always, though, simply quoting an average is an oversimplification. Let’s consider some of the pros and cons of being a shorter soccer player and then analyze how those factors affect different players in different positions.
Short Ballon d’Or Winners
A good place to see whether a soccer player is short or tall is by looking at the best players in the world. Over the last 10 years, two players have dominated the awards, Messi and Ronaldo. But there was a change to that in 2018 when Modric won. So what is the height of these players and what position do they play in?
| Player | Height | Position |
| Modric | 5’8” | Midfielder |
| Ronaldo | 6’2” | Winger |
| Messi | 5’7” | Striker |
Two of the winners are under the average height of a male (5’9″), with Ronaldo being the exception. This demonstrates that it is possible for both short and tall to compete and reach the heights of soccer.
Being a Short Soccer Player
First, let’s take a quick look at some of the general advantages and disadvantages of being a short soccer player:
Advantages:
- More agility
- Better balance and stability
- Superior ball handling and control
- Faster acceleration
Disadvantages
- Less chance of winning headers
- Not likely to play center back/goalkeeper
- Shoulder to shoulder disadvantage
- Fewer interceptions with shorter legs
Top Players in the EPL – Last 10 years + Height
The following is a list of the best players in the English Premier League over the last 10 years. A note for defenders and goalkeepers, you a less likely to get the accolades that the forward players get! Although in 2018 van Dijk won it with his solid displays at the back.
The height of the players range from 5’6” to 6’4” – this is a good indication that the height of a soccer player does not restrict you from gaining awards.
| Player | PFA Year | Height | Position |
| Virgil van Dijk | 2018 | 6’4” | Center Back |
| Mohamed Salah | 2017 | 5’9” | Winger |
| N’Golo Kanté | 2016 | 5’6” | Midfielder |
| Riyad Mahrez | 2015 | 5’10” | Winger |
| Eden Hazard | 2014 | 5’9” | Winger |
| Luis Suárez | 2013 | 6’0” | Striker |
| Gareth Bale | 2012 | 6’1” | Winger |
| Robin van Persie | 2011 | 6’0” | Striker |
| Gareth Bale | 2010 | 6’1” | Winger |
| Wayne Rooney | 2009 | 5’9” | Striker |
Advantages
First of all, shorter players often display incredible agility, seemingly able to turn on a dime. Their compact bodies are able to change direction faster than taller players.
Better stability comes because shorter players have a lower center of gravity. Essentially this means that their weight tends to stay more centered, helping them keep their balance and stability even when changing directions quickly.
Short players usually have better ball-handling skills and control in part because they are close to the ground. Their shorter limbs keep them closer to the ball and give them more control.
Disadvantages
Being a shorter soccer player does have its drawbacks, though, and studies show that professional soccer players are becoming taller over time. The clearest area where taller players have an advantage is the aerial game.
Winning headers is a lot easier if you are a taller player. On corner kicks especially, you can see how shorter players are at a disadvantage. There are other disadvantages, too. Taller players have longer legs.
This allows them to reach top speeds that are higher than those of shorter players. Again, though, keep in mind this is only running in a straight line long enough to reach top speed without the ball, which is not that common a situation.
Think of a wide receiver in football. How many times do you see a football prospect come out of the combine with some crazy 40-yard time only to fail in the NFL because he can’t cut quickly enough or can’t juke defenders? Finally, because shorter players tend to weigh less, they can sometimes be pushed around by heavier, more physical players.
Are Soccer Players Short?
Being short can pay off for certain positions, but height is a definite advantage for other positions. Defenders, particularly down the center, tend to be taller players. And goalkeepers are often the tallest players on the field.
It makes sense—all else being equal, a taller keeper with longer limbs will stop more balls. In the last edition of the World Cup, goalkeepers were the tallest group on average (over 6’2”), followed by defenders. Forwards were next, and midfielders were the shortest group on average at just under 5’11”.
Keepers
A list of top keepers playing today might include names like Buffon, ter Stegen, Oblak, DeGea, Lloris, Courtois, and Neuer. Every one of those men is at least 6’2”. This unique position, more than any of the field players, seems to reward height. Tall keepers can cover a larger area, both from side to side and vertically.
High balls are easier to catch for a tall keeper and field players will find it much harder to win a header from a taller keeper. There’s also a psychological element: for me, seeing a tall keeper in goal makes the goal feel smaller and harder to score on.
Are Goalkeepers Tall?
Of course not. Taller keepers sometimes lack the agility and flexibility that allow shorter keepers to get down low to make saves. The Mexican national team has featured a few short keepers, notably Oscar Perez and Jorge Campos.
But even “shorter” keepers are often still fairly tall by general standards. For instance, when David Ospina, at 6’0”, was signed to become Arsenal’s goalkeeper, many people questioned whether his lack of height would prevent him from finding success in the Premier League.
The Spanish team enjoyed its greatest streak of all time with the first-choice pairing of Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes, both just six feet tall. Still, though, it’s clear that of all the positions on the field, keepers are generally on the taller side.
Are Defenders Short?
There’s often a marked difference in heights between a team’s central defenders and fullbacks. Central defenders must defend the air game and take up space in the box. Their height is especially critical to defend on crosses to taller strikers.
Still, though, there have been several standout center backs whose physique was on the shorter side; Fabio Cannavaro, Carlos Puyol, and Javier Javier Mascherano three that come to mind.
The picture of Mascherano, clearly shows his height being less than his teammates. Whilst he was a Liverpool he played center midfielder and when he was in Barcelona he played center back. His effort and determination made up for his lack of height at 5’7″!
On the other hand, it’s more common to see shorter, speedier defenders playing as fullbacks. On defense, holding wider positions, height doesn’t confer many advantages.
Defending crosses from the wing, jockeying opposing forwards into worse positions, and maintaining tactical discipline are much more important. And in the modern game, full-backs often utilized for their offensive game as much as their defensive prowess, so quick and agile shorter players, like Jordi Alba at Barcelona or Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid can shine on both ends of the field.
Are Midfielders Short?
In many games, the shortest players on both teams are midfielders. This is the area where all those advantages listed above-agility, balance, control, really help shorter players shine on both offense and defense.
5’8” Luca Modric won the Golden Ball as the best player in last year’s World Cup. N’Golo Kanté is only 5’6” but his dynamism and agility make him one of the best in the world. Isco and Coutinho are two other good examples of shorter midfielders who use their quick feet and creativity to keep defenders off-balance.
Center forwards and strikers seem to have the biggest variance in terms of height. Generally, if a team relies on its striker to win high balls in the air and create chances for teammates—a typical “target man”—then height and physical strength are going to be at a premium. Peter Crouch at 6’7” holds the record for the most headers in Premier League history. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has technical abilities rarely seen in a 6’5” striker.
But a quick glance at top forwards reveals that many of them on the shorter side. Messi, of course, who often plays a kind of false 9, excels there in large part because his outstanding dribbling ability lets him take advantage of space between defenders, while his great passing ability and vision help him connect with teammates making runs to the goal.
Antoine Griezmann and Sergio Aguero are both under 5”8” but are considered among the best forwards in the world.
On the wings, Neymar at 5’7” is often listed as the third greatest player around today, after Ronaldo and Messi. Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard, neither of whom top 5’7”, are two other top wingers whose pace and cutting ability make life difficult for taller, heavier, slower defenders.
Who are the shortest players in the EPL and MLS?
The shortest player in the Premier League right now is Ryan Fraser, who stands 5’4” and plays on the wing for A.F.C. Bournemouth. The shortest player in MLS history is Joao Plata, who plays forward for Real Salt Lake and is listed at 5’2”.
Height of Soccer Players at the World Cup 2018
The tallest team at the World Cup was Serbia, measuring 185.6cm/6’1” and the shortest team was Saudi Arabia, measuring at 176.2/5’8”. These figures show us that the heights vary from team to team, but who won the World Cup and what is their height?
The Top 3 Teams and Heights
| Team | Place | Height |
| France | 1st | 5’9” |
| Croatia | 2nd | 6’1” |
| Belgium | 3rd | 6’0” |
Being a Short Soccer PLayer
Despite trends that show players getting taller over time, soccer is clearly a sport in which shorter players can not only compete but excel at the highest levels. If you are short you are currently excluded from two positions, center back and goalkeeper – but this could all change in the game of soccer.
Being short or tall does not stop you from playing soccer, it is a game for all sizes, which is one of the beauties about it. There are advantages and disadvantages to all players. So whether you’re a giant or a shorty, you can excel. For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.
Related Questions
What is a good height for a soccer player?
Who are faster, short or tall players?
