Did you know that the average height of a football player is about 5 ft 11″? With a height approximately 180 cm, it equals the stature of Tottenham Hotspur forward Heung-min Son, Manchester City’s legendary forward Kevin De Bruyne, or the experienced Chelsea and Brazil defender Thiago Silva. Throughout football history, this average height has gradually increased, from a modest 5ft 6″ in the early 20th century to the taller modern figures, with many players now standing at least 6 feet or taller. So, are you curious about who is the shortest football player? Let’s explore the list of the world’s 10 shortest football players together with bestsoccertips.com in the following article!
List of the 10 shortest football player in the world in the World
10. Maximiliano Nicolás Moralez (5ft 3″ or 160cm)
Argentinian attacking midfielder Maximiliano “Maxi” Moralez has played for both Primera División club Racing and Serie A side Atalanta. Mostly due to his small stature, he’s been nicknamed ‘frasquito’ or ‘little flask’. He featured in the Argentina U20 team and spent a year as a member of their FIFA U20 World Cup-winning squad, notably lining up alongside Sergio Agüero in their attack.
In 2017, Maxi signed with New York City FC and was designated as a Designated Player—a MLS provision allowing teams to sign players who may be outside their specific salary cap. Throughout his career, Maxi has consistently contributed goals, tallying 103 goals in 576 appearances.
9. Rui Gil Soares de Barros (159 cm)
Rui Barros is a former Portuguese attacking midfielder who played for Porto, Juventus, and France’s Ligue Un. Over 8 seasons with Porto, he scored 43 goals in 191 appearances. Barros also represented the Portuguese national team 36 times and even netted 4 goals for his country.
He established a solid reputation during his time at Juventus, although he couldn’t help Portugal surpass the FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifiers in Italy. In total, Barros made 409 club appearances. He was always a diligent, skilled, and fast midfielder, excelling in Dino Zoff’s counter-attacking setup at Juventus.
8. Daniel Villalva (1m58, 1m58)
Daniel Villalva is an Argentine attacking midfielder currently playing for the Primera Nacional club Ferro Carril Oeste, one of Argentina’s top clubs. Back in 2009, he became the youngest player ever to don the jersey of the legendary River Plate, debuting as a substitute at the age of 16 years, 7 months, and two days.
In 2007, he first represented Argentina in the South American U15 Football Championship in Brazil. He quickly progressed to being called up to the U17 national team, where he even participated in the South American Championship in 2009, scoring three impressive goals in just five appearances.
7. Martín Pando (5ft 3″ or 158cm)
In the 1950s, Argentine forward Martín Pando played for Buenos Aires-based clubs Plateense and Argentinos Juniors before signing with River Plate in 1962. Pando also featured for Argentina in two FIFA World Cup 1962 qualifying matches and later in the tournament itself.
Unfortunately, Argentina was eliminated in the group stage with Pando’s sole appearance being in a goalless draw against Hungary, where he also captained the team. He passed away in May 2021 at the age of 86. Pando made 53 appearances for River Plate and scored six goals, while for Argentina, he earned 11 caps and scored thrice internationally.
6. Madson Formagini Caridade (5ft 2″ or 157cm)
Known simply as Madson, the renowned Brazilian attacking midfielder is notable not only for his modest height but also for his skill in executing set pieces and intricate passing style. Starting his career in the depths of Brazilian youth football, Madson eventually became a regular player at both Vasco da Gama and Santos.
He would move to Qatari club Al-Khor in the mid-2010s as part of a six-month short-term contract and then return to Brazil in 2018 to join Fortaleza, a team newly promoted to Brazil’s Serie A at the time. Throughout his career, he has played 162 matches and scored 63 impressive goals for his various clubs.
5. Benedict Vilakazi (5ft 2″ or 157cm)
South African midfielder Benedict Vilakazi is recognized as one of the smallest professional international footballers of his time but still boasts both strength and physical pride. His two nicknames, “Tso” and “Little Napoleon,” seemingly reflect his leadership skills on the field.
He played for Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK with short stints at Swaziland’s Malanti Chiefs and Botswana’s Notwane FC. To this day, Vilakazi holds the record for the all-time top scorer for Orlando Pirates with 52 goals. ‘Tso’ also serves as the head coach of Orange Vaal Professionals, a team competing in South Africa’s ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of South African football.
4. Frederick Walden (5ft 2″ or 156cm)
The oldest player on this list is Frederick Walden, an English winger (in modern terms referred to as a winger or forward) who played for Northampton Town, Tottenham Hotspur, and England throughout the 1910s and 20s. Standing at just 5 ft 2″, he was often regarded as a nimble winger, renowned for his swift runs and pace down the right flank. Due to his diminutive stature, Walden was nicknamed ‘Fanny’, a moniker commonly used in the early 1900s to refer to those with ‘dainty figures’.
It can be predicted that he holds the record for the smallest footballer to have represented England at the international level. Walden made a total of 342 appearances in his career and scored 48 goals.
3. Jafal Rashed Al-Kuwari (5ft 1″ or 155cm)
Jafal Rashed Al-Kuwari, one of the shortest footballers in the world, has contributed significantly to the development of Qatari football. Renowned for his time with Al Sadd club and the national team, Al-Kuwari has become a symbol of national pride. His role extends beyond being a talented player; he’s also a spiritual leader, contributing to the rise of the national team and Qatar’s football strength internationally.
The end of his professional playing career in 2009 didn’t diminish Al-Kuwari’s impact on Qatari football. He continued his association with Al Sadd, not only as a team manager but also as a strong role model for young players and a source of inspiration for the community. Additionally, his contribution to Qatar’s beach football team has been invaluable, opening new opportunities and avenues for Qatar’s football development across various domains.
2. Élton José Xavier Gomes (154cm)
Often known as Élton Arábia or simply Élton, this Brazilian left-wing attacking midfielder began his career at the legendary Romanian club Steaua București at the age of 21. In his early years, he immediately impressed both fans and coaches, with Steaua Bucharest’s Executive President Mihai Stoica praising Elton’s “amazing technique and dribbling skills”.
In 2007, he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where he recently became known as the recent home of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Arabian adventure. Elton scored numerous goals and provided assists, endearing himself to Al Nasr fans. In 2017, he transferred to Al-Qadisiyah in Saudi Arabia, where he later became the team captain and also played for several Qatari clubs.
1. Marcin Garuch (153cm)
Marcin Garuch, known as one of the shortest professional footballers in the world, has made his mark in football with his career. He is a midfielder for Miedź Legnica II in the National League, and despite not being known for his height, he has attracted attention for his stability and talent on the field. At the age of 34, Marcin Garuch remains a notable figure and an important part of the Polish team.
With a wealth of experience, Garuch has won a notable title, the Polish I Liga championship with Miedź Legnica II at the end of the 2021/22 season. Although just a single title, it is evidence of his dedication and talent. With nearly 400 matches and 47 goals to his name, Garuch has proven that he is not only famous for his exceptional height but also a noteworthy player with his abilities and achievements on the field.
Conclusion
These are all players who make it onto the list of the shortest footballers. While Lionel Messi may not be the shortest player, he is certainly the most prominent name on the list. Whose height surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.
See more: 10 Tallest soccer player in the world (2024 Rankings)
