Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and the World’s Top 10 Shortest Footballers

Football today proves that skill beats size. Players once considered too short for the sport have shown that talent is what truly matters. Here’s a rundown of the 10 shortest footballers, highlighting their heights and achievements.

• 10. Xherdan Shaqiri (5 ft 7)Xherdan Shaqiri, born in 1991 with roots from Yugoslavia and Albania, stands 5 feet 7 inches tall. Known for his speed and dribbling, he played for top clubs like Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. FIFA praised him as "unpredictable on the ball," earning nicknames such as "Alpine Messi." Shaqiri impressed at the 2014 World Cup with a hat-trick against Honduras.
• 9. Lionel Messi (5 ft 7)Lionel Andrés Messi shares this height and ranks ninth. Born in 1987, Messi is often called one of the best ever. Currently leading Inter Miami and Argentina’s national team, he holds eight Ballon d’Ors and many other awards. His career includes 34 trophies with Barcelona and victories in Copa América 2021 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• 8. Alexis Sanchez (5 ft 6.5)Chilean Alexis Sanchez, standing at 5 feet 6.5 inches, is still active at 35. He had a spell at Manchester United and was once La Liga's shortest player when at Barcelona. Born in 1988, he remains influential on the field.
• 7. Joe Allen (5 ft 6)Welsh midfielder Joe Allen, born in 1990, measures 5 feet 6 inches. Starting with Swansea City, where he made his debut at 16, Allen moved to Liverpool in 2012 for £15 million, then Stoke City, and later returned to Swansea. He also represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics.
• 6. N'Golo Kanté (5 ft 6)The relentless defensive midfielder N'Golo Kanté stands 5 feet 6 inches. Rising from French lower leagues, he became a World Cup winner with France in 2018. Kanté won back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea and claimed numerous individual honors including PFA Player of the Year.
• 5. Yuya Osako (5 ft 5)Japanese forward Yuya Osako, 5 feet 5 inches tall, played for Vissel Kobe and starred in Japan’s historic 2018 World Cup win over Colombia. He scored four goals in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, helping Japan reach the final.
• 4. Marco Verratti (5 ft 4)Italian midfielder Marco Verratti stands 5 feet 4 inches tall. Starting at Pescara, he helped them win Serie B before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, becoming one of their most capped players and winning nine Ligue 1 titles. Internationally, Verratti contributed to Italy’s Euro 2020 victory.
• 3. Lorenzo Insigne (5 ft 3)Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne, 5 feet 3 inches, is known for his pace and free-kick skills. After loan spells early in his career, he became a vital part of Napoli and Italy’s squads, playing key roles in Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 campaigns.
• 2. Daniel Villalva (5 ft 0)Daniel "Keko" Villalva, an attacking midfielder born in 1992, is 5 feet tall. He debuted for River Plate at 16, scoring his first goal that same year. Despite a severe injury disrupting his progress, Villalva showed resilience and represented Argentina at youth international tournaments.
• 1. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes (5 ft 0)Brazilian Élton Arábia tops the list at 5 feet tall. An attacking midfielder, he earned his nickname from playing in Saudi Arabia. Despite his size, he made a strong impact on the pitch throughout his career.