Top 10 Shortest Footballers in the World: Messi, Sanchez and More

The idea that football favors only tall and strong players has been challenged by many talented athletes of shorter stature. Skills often outshine physical size, and history shows plenty of examples where technical ability matters most. Here is a rundown of the 10 shortest footballers globally, alongside their heights.

• 10. Xherdan Shaqiri: 5 ft 7 inXherdan Shaqiri, born in 1991, is a Swiss player with Yugoslavian and Albanian roots. Known for his quickness and skill, he has played for top clubs like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. FIFA praises him as "unpredictable on the ball" with excellent vision. His 2014 World Cup hat-trick against Honduras marked him as a sharp scorer.
• 9. Lionel Messi: 5 ft 7 inWidely considered one of the greatest ever, Lionel Andrés Messi leads Inter Miami in MLS and captains Argentina. Born in 1987, his awards include eight Ballon d'Ors and six European Golden Shoes. He won 34 trophies with Barcelona and guided Argentina to Copa América (2021) and FIFA World Cup (2022) victories.
• 8. Alexis Sanchez: 5 ft 6.5 inThe Chilean forward, born in 1988, still performs well at 35. Having played for Manchester United and Barcelona (where he was La Liga's shortest player), Sanchez has had an impressive European career.
• 7. Joe Allen: 5 ft 6 inA Welsh midfielder born in 1990, Joe Allen started at Swansea City before moving to Liverpool for £15 million in 2012. After four seasons at Anfield, he joined Stoke City, playing over 220 matches, and then returned to Swansea in 2022. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
• 6. N'Golo Kanté: 5 ft 6 inKanté is famed for his tireless defensive midfield role. From humble beginnings with Boulogne and Caen, he rose to Premier League stardom with Leicester City's 2016 title and Chelsea. A World Cup winner with France in 2018, he holds multiple individual honors including PFA Player of the Year.
• 5. Yuya Osako: 5 ft 5 inJapan's international star, Osako made history by scoring in Japan’s first-ever World Cup win over a South American team in 2018. He played for Vissel Kobe and shone in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, scoring four goals to help Japan reach the final.
• 4. Marco Verratti: 5 ft 4 inKnown for his passing and control, Verratti plays for Al-Arabi and Italy. Starting at Pescara, he won Serie B in 2011-12 and earned the Bravo Award. Since 2012 at Paris Saint-Germain, he's won nine Ligue 1 titles and featured prominently in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph.
• 3. Lorenzo Insigne: 5 ft 3 inInsigne began at Napoli in 2009 and is recognized for creativity and free kick prowess. Despite his size, he possesses speed and skill. He helped Italy win Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 and earned a runner-up medal with the Italy U-21s in 2013.
• 2. Daniel Villalva: 5 ft 0 inKnown as "Keko," Villalva debuted for River Plate at 16, becoming their youngest-ever player in 2009. Though a severe injury affected his early career, he rebounded and represented Argentina at youth levels, including the 2009 U-17 World Cup.
• 1. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes: 5 ft 0 inOften called Élton Arábia, this Brazilian attacking midfielder earned his nickname during his time in Saudi Arabia. He stands as the shortest footballer in this list and has made a significant impact wherever he has played.