List of Shortest Football Players
Quick Answer
The shortest professional football player ever is Marcin Garuch from Poland at 153 cm (5'0"). Despite height traditionally being an advantage in football, numerous short players have achieved remarkable success in professional leagues and international competitions.
- Shortest professional player: Marcin Garuch at 153 cm (5'0")
- Shortest World Cup players: Ji-Sung Kim and Mambwene Mana at 157 cm (5'2")
- Famous short legends: Maradona (165 cm) and Messi (170 cm)
While successful football (soccer) players can come in all shapes and sizes, height can be an important factor in success.
Maradona was shortBeing tall with good arm span reach are particularly important for goalkeepers. Around the pitch, taller players with a good leap and positional skills have an advantage in overhead contests. We have lists of the tallest footballers, who are mostly goalkeepers.
"While height provides advantages in aerial duels and goalkeeping, shorter players often compensate with superior agility, lower center of gravity, and enhanced ball control in tight spaces. The success of players like Maradona and Messi proves that technical skill can overcome physical stature."— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports
On the other hand, being short does not offer as much advantage, though short stature and lower center of gravity may result in better balance and agility. There are many short players who have been very successful, for example Maradona 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) and Messi 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in). They are not the shortest though, the shortest player to play professional football may be Polish midfielder Marcin Garuch at 1.53m (5' 0").
Height Advantages
Tall players excel in aerial duels, heading, and goalkeeping. Learn about the biomechanical advantages of height in football.
Learn More →Agility Benefits
Shorter players often demonstrate superior agility and balance due to lower center of gravity, ideal for midfield play.
Explore Fitness →Position Analysis
Discover how height varies by position and which roles benefit most from different body types in professional football.
View Data →Short football players are generally midfield players. Comparing World Cup players (2002-2018), the goalies were on average the tallest, the midfielders the shortest. At the 2018 World Cup, the height of the midfielders ranged from 165-197cm.
"Analysis of World Cup data from 2002 to 2018 shows that midfielders consistently have the shortest average height among all positions, typically ranging between 165-197cm. This reflects the different physical demands of each position on the field."— Research by Robert J. Wood, PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Western Australia and founder of Topend Sports
Below we have listed the shortest professional players, which includes players from club leagues around the world, also the shortest to represent their country, and the shortest to play at the World Cup. These heights are as listed online, and there are certainly discrepancies in listed heights depending on what site you're looking at. We have tried to get the most reliable measure, but all the measurements may not be accurate.
Shortest Professional Football Players Ever
Data Source: the height data is taken from the player's profile on Wikipedia when listed, otherwise from other various sources online (Nov 2022)
Shortest International Football Players Ever
Data Source: the height data is taken from the player's profile on Wikipedia when listed, otherwise from other sources online (Nov 2022)
Shortest Players at the World Cup
"The FIFA World Cup represents the pinnacle of international football competition, and throughout its history, players of all heights have competed at the highest level. The data shows that even the shortest players can excel on the world's biggest stage when they possess exceptional skill and determination."— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years
Data Source: the height data is retrieved from the World Cup player databases on www.worldfootball.net. Not all players on the database have height measurements, so some short players may be missing from this list. (Nov 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the shortest professional football player ever?
The shortest professional football player is Marcin Garuch from Poland, standing at 153 cm (5'0"). He played as a midfielder in professional leagues. This remarkable achievement demonstrates that exceptional skill and technique can overcome height disadvantages in football.
What is the advantage of being short in football?
Short stature can provide advantages including a lower center of gravity which results in better balance and agility. Short players often excel in tight spaces and quick direction changes, making them particularly effective as midfielders or attacking players who need to navigate through defenses.
Who was the shortest player at a World Cup?
Ji-Sung Kim from South Korea and Mambwene Mana from DR Congo share the record at 157 cm (5'2"), making them the shortest players to ever compete at a FIFA World Cup. Both players were midfielders who represented their countries on the world's biggest football stage.
Can short players be successful in professional football?
Yes, many short players have achieved remarkable success. Legendary players like Diego Maradona (165 cm) and Lionel Messi (170 cm) are among the greatest footballers of all time, proving that technical ability, vision, and football intelligence can overcome any height disadvantage.
What position do short football players typically play?
Short football players are generally midfielders or forwards. Data from World Cups shows midfielders are on average the shortest position, with heights ranging from 165-197cm at the 2018 World Cup. This is because these positions benefit most from agility, quick footwork, and lower center of gravity.
Why are goalkeepers typically taller in football?
Goalkeepers benefit significantly from height because it increases their reach and ability to cover more of the goal area. Tall goalkeepers with good arm span can more easily defend against shots aimed at the top corners and claim high crosses. This makes height a considerable advantage for the goalkeeper position specifically.
How accurate are height measurements for football players?
Height measurements can vary depending on the source, as different databases and teams may measure players at different times and using different methods. The measurements listed are compiled from various reliable sources including Wikipedia, official team records, and World Cup databases, but some discrepancies may exist between different sources.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2022). "Professional Football Player Profiles." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.wikipedia.org
- World Football. (2022). "World Cup Player Database." worldfootball.net. Retrieved from https://www.worldfootball.net/
- FIFA. (2018). "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Player Statistics." FIFA Official Website.
- Norton, K., & Olds, T. (2001). "Anthropometrica: A Textbook of Body Measurement for Sports and Health Courses." University of New South Wales Press.
- Reilly, T., Bangsbo, J., & Franks, A. (2000). "Anthropometric and physiological predispositions for elite soccer." Journal of Sports Sciences. 18(9), 669-683.
- Helsen, W. F., Baker, J., Michiels, S., Schorer, J., Van Winckel, J., & Williams, A. M. (2012). "The relative age effect in European professional soccer." Journal of Sports Sciences. 30(15), 1665-1671.
- Stolen, T., Chamari, K., Castagna, C., & Wisloff, U. (2005). "Physiology of soccer: an update." Sports Medicine. 35(6), 501-536.
Related Pages
Football Anthropometry
Comprehensive guide to body measurements and physical characteristics of football players across different positions.
Learn More →Tallest Footballers
Discover the tallest professional football players who dominated with their height advantage, particularly goalkeepers.
View List →World Cup Height Analysis
Comparative analysis of player heights across World Cup tournaments from 2002-2018, showing trends by position.
Explore Data →Fitness Testing for Football
Complete guide to fitness testing protocols used in professional football, including anthropometric measurements.
Read Guide →Height Measurement Procedure
Standard protocols and techniques for accurately measuring standing height in athletes for research and assessment.
View Procedure →Shortest Olympic Athletes
Explore the shortest athletes who competed at the Olympic Games across various sports throughout history.
Discover More →
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
