Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and the top 10 shortest footballers in the world (2024)

The modern game recognizes that a footballer's technical mastery is the ultimate game-changer, here's a list of the 10 shortest footballers, along with their heights.

The stereotype of football favoring only the tall and strong has been shattered by phenomenal players of shorter stature.

History is filled with these skillful stars who proved that technical ability reigns supreme. While height and physical strength can be assets, they no longer define success.

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The modern game recognizes that a footballer's technical mastery is the ultimate game-changer.

Here's a list of the 10 shortest footballers, along with their heights:

10. Xherdan Shaqiri (5 ft 7)

Xherdan Shaqiri, who was born in 1991, is a Swiss footballer of Yugoslavian and Albanian descent. He stands at 5 feet 7 inches and is ranked 10th in the top 10 of the shortest footballers in the world.

He's known for his electrifying pace on and off the ball and has plied his trade with top teams including Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and the Swiss national team.

Shaqiri's skills have earned him praise from FIFA, who describe him as "unpredictable on the ball, adept with both feet, clinical in front of goal" with "excellent vision." These attributes have led to nicknames like the "Alpine Messi" and "magic dwarf."

He cemented his reputation as a top scorer during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, bagging a hat-trick against Honduras and finishing among the tournament's leading goal scorers.

9. Lionel Messi (5 ft 7)

Lionel Andrés Messi, with a height of 5 ft 7 is ranked ninth in the top 10 of shortest footballers in the world.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time; born in 1987, he currently captains both Major League Soccer's Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.

His trophy cabinet boasts a record-breaking eight Ballon d'Or awards, six European Golden Shoes, and eight FIFA Best Men's Player awards.

Messi spent most of his professional career at Barcelona, amassing a staggering 34 trophies with the club, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey wins, and four UEFA Champions League triumphs.

On the international stage, he led Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, cementing his legacy as a global football icon.

8. Alexis Sanchez (5 ft 6)

5 feet 6.5 inches Chilean footballer Alexis Sanchez continues to thrive at age 35 after spending time with different clubs in Europe.

The player, who is also called Alexis, was born in 1988 and enjoys a stellar career that includes a stint at the famous Manchester United.

In 2011, he joined prestigious Spanish club Barcelona, becoming La Liga's shortest player at the time.

7. Joe Allen (5 ft 6)

Also joining the top 10 of the shortest footballers in the world is Joe Allen whose height is 5 feet 6 inches.

Born in 1990, Allen is a Welsh midfielder who plays for EFL Championship club Swansea City.

His football journey began at Swansea, where he made his professional debut at the young age of 16, during his six years with the Swans, Allen witnessed two promotions, rising from League One to the Premier League. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

In 2012, following Brendan Rodgers, his former manager at Swansea, Allen secured a £15 million move to Liverpool. He spent four seasons at Anfield, making over 130 appearances.

After his time with the Reds, Allen moved to Stoke City in 2016 for £13 million. He established himself as a key player for the Potters, amassing over 220 appearances before returning to Swansea in 2022.

6. Ngolo Kante (5 ft 6)

N'Golo Kanté, who is known as a tireless defensive midfielder, is among the top 10 of the shortest footballers in the world, standing at a height of 5 feet 6 inches.

The Former Chelsea star rose from humble beginnings - with French clubs Boulogne and Caen, working his way up from the third division to become a world champion with France.

Kante joined Leicester City in 2015, becoming a key figure in their shocking Premier League title win in 2016.

He moved to Chelsea in 2017 for £32 million and achieved the unique feat of winning consecutive Premier League titles with different teams.

The Frenchman played a crucial role in Chelsea's triumphs in the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, and more.

The Al-Ittihad star won the World Cup with France in 2018, adding to his international debut in 2016 and a runner-up finish at Euro 2016.

Premier League Player of the Season, PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and UEFA Men's Midfielder of the Year, are some of the individual awards Kante has won.

5. Yuya Osako (5 ft 5)

Leading the top 5 of the shortest footballers in the world is Japanese national team star, Yuya Osako, at 5 feet 5 inches.

Osako played for Vissel Kobe in 2018. He secured a spot in Japan's preliminary squad for the World Cup in Russia.

During the opening match against Colombia, Osako scored Japan's second goal via aheader, putting their name in history as the first Asian team to defeat a South American team in the World Cup.

Osako continued his impressive international career in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.

His four goals were instrumental in propelling Japan to the finals, where they fell short against Qatar (3-1).

4. Marco Verratti (5 ft 4)

Marco Verratti, a technically gifted central midfielder, currently weaves his magic for both the Italian national team and Qatari club Al-Arabi.

Verratti's journey began with Italian club Pescara, where his exceptional talent quickly shone. He played a key role in their Serie B title win in 2011-12, earning him the prestigious Bravo Award as the best young midfielder in Europe.

He drew comparisons to the legendary Andrea Pirlo with his pinpoint passing, tactical vision, and control.

In 2012, Verratti made a major move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Here, he cemented his status as a world-class midfielder.

He holds the distinction of being the club's third-highest all-time appearance maker and boasts a collection of trophies, including a record-breaking nine Ligue 1 titles.

Verratti's talent extends to the international stage, he represented Italy's U-21 team at the European Championship, where they finished runners-up and he made the all-star team.

His senior career saw him participate in the 2014 World Cup and ultimately lead Italy to victory at Euro 2020.

3. Lorenzo Insigne (5 ft 3)

One of the top three shortest footballersintheworld is Lorenzo Insigne, the technically gifted winger.

Insigne began his professional career at Napoli in 2009, eventually making his Serie A debut in 2010. Loan spells at Cavese, Foggia, and Pescara honed his skills before he returned to Napoli in 2012.

Insigne is known for his creativity, despite his short stature, Insigne possesses impressive speed and technical ability. He excels at free kicks, adding another dimension to his attacking threat.

Insigne represented Italy's U-21 team, earning a runner-up medal at the 2013 European Championship.

Insigne's senior debut came in 2012 and he played a key role in Italy's triumphs at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

2. Daniel Villava (5 ft 0)

Daniel "Keko" Villalva is an attacking midfielder who had a unique beginning to his career.

Villava was born in 1992 and achieved a milestone in 2009 by becoming the youngest player ever to play for the prestigious River Plate at just age 16.

Despite his young age, Villalva even managed to score his first senior goal in 2009. Unfortunately, a serious vertebral injury before the 2010-11 season derailed his progress and coincided with River Plate's relegation to the second tier.

Villalva's career faced a critical point with the injury, but he showed resilience by recovering and returning to the field during River Plate's second-division campaign.

Villalva's talent was recognized early on, representing Argentina at the U-15 and U-17 levels, including the 2009 South American Championship and the 2009 World Cup.

1. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes (5 ft 0)

Taking the first-place on the list of the top 10 shortest footballersintheworld is Brazilian Elton Jose Xavier Gomes.

He is more popularly known as Élton Arábia or simply Élton, who leaves his mark on the field as an attacking midfielder.

Despite his nickname, "Arábia," which might suggest Arabic origins, it was actually earned during his successful stint playing in Saudi Arabia.