Soccer players come in many different physical forms. Generally, the tallest and heaviest players are goalkeepers, central defenders, and target man forwards.
The shorter players tend to play in wide and attacking roles. However, there are many exceptions in every position.
What are the body types of soccer players? Soccer players are cardio machines; they’re slim and lean and tend to have muscular legs. Their average height approximates that of the average person, and their weight rarely exceeds 200 lbs for a man and 155 lbs for a woman.
This is mainly due to the physical demands and endurance of being a pro player. Playing the game of averages doesn’t have any relevance in soccer.
Body types and physical characteristics are mere variables when it comes to the makeup of a player.
Scientifically speaking, there are 3 different body types:
- Ectomorphs
- Mesomorphs
- Endomorphs
Soccer players tend to fall into Ectomorphs and Mesomorphs, with mesomorphs being the most common body type.
However, there are many examples of endomorphs in the game also. Physical characteristics and body type contribute to players’ ability and suitability for certain positions, but they’re not definitive.
Throughout this article, we’ll study the different body types of soccer players, look into the types of bodies found in specific positions, and compare the best examples with outliers.
The Body Types of Soccer Players
Soccer players fall into various forms of the three general body type categories (somatotypes).
Ectomorph
An ectomorph is typically thin and long. They’re often tall, with lengthy limbs, small joints, and lean muscle. Their slighter frame doesn’t support much weight or muscle mass.
Mesomorph
A mesomorph is naturally athletic. Mesomorphs have broad chests and shoulders, a large bone structure, they’re naturally muscular, and have low amounts of body fat.
Endomorph
Endomorphs are of a shorter build. They’ve got a medium to large bone structure, with thick but short limbs. Endomorphs are usually quite strong but tend to gain weight/fat quite easily.
What body type is best for soccer?
Studies show that the majority of soccer players are either mesomorphs or ectomorphs. This is no surprise, as soccer players tend to be good athletes with superior endurance.
Due to their muscular make-up, mesomorphs are statistically at less risk of injury when performing athletically.
It’s important to note that these categories are relatively loose and that players can have traits from a mixture of body types.
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How to Get a Body Like a Soccer Player
Soccer players train all aspects of their bodies to become more like a pro player; you must train at least three times per week.
Competitive matches push players to the limits. You’ll need to be in good shape before you play these matches.
Depending on your current fitness, getting a body like a soccer player can take several months.
Determination and dedication will make or break you.
Soccer requires a variety of muscles to be worked, so your training must be varied in nature. Here is a selection of tools that will improve your body and monitoring.
Goalkeepers: Body Types
Goalkeepers are usually the tallest and heaviest players on the field. The tallest position in the 2018 World Cup was GK, and the average height was 6ft 2”.
The tallest player in the tournament was Croatian GK, Lovre Kalinic, who’s 6ft 7”. The tallest player in the world currently is also a GK: Simon Bloch Jorgensen, who stands 6ft 10½”.
- The average weight of a GK at the 2018 World Cup was 184lbs, almost 14lbs heavier than the average player.
- For women, goalkeepers are also the tallest players. The average female GK stands at just under 5ft 10”.
- The body types of goalkeepers are mainly mesomorphs and endomorphs.
Defenders: Body Types
Central Defenders
Outside goalkeepers, center-backs are usually the tallest and heaviest players in a squad. Not known for their speed, CBs need to be physically strong to win aerial duels and command their defensive line.
In the 2018 World Cup, the average height for a defender was 6ft 1”, almost 2 inches taller than the average player. They also outweighed the average outfield player by 4lbs.
The average height of a female soccer player is just under 5ft 6”.
Like their male counterparts, female CBs tend to be on the heavier end of outfield players, weighing 130 – 145 lbs.
Center-Midfielders: Body Types
The center midfield position is interesting when it comes to body types. There are various CM roles in the modern game, played differently by athletes of varying shapes and sizes.
Some of these roles are suited to the short and stocky hatchet builds, while others are suited to the long-legged, gut-busting, box-to-box style midfielders. Let’s take a look at a few of these roles:
Defensive Midfielder – No. 6
The number 6 was historically the defensive-minded player in a midfield two. These days, defensive midfielders operate in many different styles and are often deployed to play the position solo.
In some instances, the CDM is of a relatively stocky shape. They’re the front line of defense and throw themselves into challenges, giving everything to their team.
Their role includes reading the opposition’s attack, tackling, marking, intercepting, and covering. Not known to be tall, they often fill the endomorph category.
This type of player is naturally strong and physically durable.
Claude Makelele (Real Madrid, Chelsea & PSG) revolutionized this position and is the best example of this type of player.
Other great examples are Javier Mascherano, Gennaro Gattuso, Lucas Torreira, and Fernandinho.
Another form of a defensive midfielder is best described using a player example: Sergio Busquets, the perfect modern defensive midfielder.
Players of this type are long, lean, strong athletes capable of covering distance and making physical challenges and having elite tactical and positional ability.
They’re somewhat of a hybrid between ectomorph and mesomorph. Many stand well over 6ft and don’t look very strong but carry lean muscle and strength on their slender frame.
Examples of this type of CDM are;
- Nemanja Matic (6ft 4”)
- Fabinho (6ft 2”)
- Casemiro (6ft 1”)
- Frenkie De Jong (5ft 11”)
Deep lying playmakers occupy defensive positions on the field but are usually free of significant defensive duties.
They’ve got a phenomenal passing range and amazing vision. It’s common to see this type of role filled by a player of slight build.
Their height varies, but often their strength and physicality are lacking. This type of player is Pirlo, Xavi, Jorginho, and Xabi Alonso.
Attacking Midfielder
The number 8 is usually the more attacking-minded of a midfield pair or a box-to-box style player. They cover the most distance in a game. Their fitness and stamina levels are through the roof.
Therefore, they’re often the lightest and leanest players. In the 2018 World Cup, the average midfield player weighed 163lbs, 5lbs lighter than the avg. outfield player.
Heightwise, this type of midfielder exemplifies the size variance in the sport.
For example, here are some of the most notable midfielders of this type in recent times
Best midfielders and their heights
- N’Golo Kante (5ft 6”)
- Roy Keane (5ft 10”)
- Arturo Vidal (5ft 11”)
- Steven Gerrard (6ft)
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (6ft)
- Yaya Touré (6ft 2”)
- Patrick Vieira (6ft 4”)
The stylistic approach from a manager or the overall skillset of the player can have more of an influence on the game than size.
Attackers: Body Types
Forwards
Like with certain midfield positions, attackers’ sizes can vary significantly. Advanced playmakers, center-forwards, and wingers are frequently short and quick, with low centers of gravity.
They’re light to be able to dribble, pass, and move quickly in the opposition third but tend to have good core strength.
The typical physical build of such a player is that of;
- Lionel Messi
- Paulo Dybala
- David Silva
- Sadio Mane
- Eden Hazard
However, several tall, powerful, fast, and skillful athletes play attacking roles.
These are the outliers. Such players can run like gazelles, turn on a sixpence, compete physically with defenders, make pin-point crosses, and score goals.
These physically gifted players almost always fall into the mesomorph category as pure natural athletes. Perhaps the best example of this would be;
- Cristiano Ronaldo (6ft 2″)
- Gareth Bale (6ft 1”)
- Thierry Henry (6ft 2”)
- Ivan Perisic (6ft 1”)
- Marcus Rashford (6ft)
Strikers
The number 9 or striker position can have the largest contrast regarding body type. On one end of the scale, we’ve targeted men such as Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 6ft 3” and 6ft 5” respectively, weighing over 200lbs.
These powerhouses share the physical stats of GKs and CBs, while also possessing the skill and athleticism of an attacker.
On the other end of the scale, we can look at players like Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. Both fall into the endomorphic category with their stocky builds.
Neither are “typically” athletic, but both possess superior strength and balance, complementing their unique skillsets and adding to their effectiveness on the field.
Many more strikers fall somewhere between a Zlatan and an Aguero.
variation of body types for soccer players
Interestingly, the 2018 World Cup statistics showed that although height and weight varied between positions, players’ BMI levels were about even across the board (23.2).
Female pros tend to have a slightly lower BMI (22.4). Athletes play soccer with different body types, but they’re most definitely in peak physical condition.
Ronaldo and Messi are undoubtedly their generation’s best players, if not all time.
Their goalscoring feats, as well as their teams’ successes, have been breathtaking. See the reviews for this pro agility training kit on Amazon; it’ll increase your essential sprint speed.
One of the most interesting aspects of this is how different both players are physically and stylistically, even though they fill similar roles.
Ronaldo, at 6ft 2”, 185lbs, is built like a Greek God, while Messi, although athletic and lightning-quick, at 5ft 7”, 158lbs, could easily pass as your local barista.
There is no average body type in soccer. Some might argue that there is an optimal type for a position, but then there are always exceptions (and lots of them).
As a game anyone can play, there’s no wonder that soccer is the most popular sport in the world. For more useful guides, see the articles below or visit our home page.
Related Questions
What’s The Average Weight Of A Soccer Player?
How Fit Do Soccer Players Have To Be?
Pro soccer players require an elite level of fitness. Their cardiovascular levels are very high. They run the most distance per game in all ball sports (7 miles on average).
Who’s The Heaviest Soccer Player In The World?
The heaviest player in the world currently is Englishman Adebayo Akinfenwa, who plays for Wycombe Wanderers F.C. He weighs 227lbs.
