One thing about soccer is that a player does not necessarily have to be tall to be the star in the game. In fact, some of the most successful players in soccer history have been 5’7″ or even shorter.
While there might be shorter players out there, this list is limited to players who suited up for higher-level teams at some point. What is remarkable is that some of these guys still succeeded at the highest level despite going up against bigger opponents every night. So, who are the 15 shortest soccer players of all time?
1. Diego Maradona – 165 cm
The death of Diego Maradona from a heart attack has shocked the world. He was one of the legendary football players from Argentina. After quitting as an athlete, Diego Maradona switched professions as a manager. Because of his respect, his name was immortalized as the name of the stadium of Napoli, Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The player who is famous for his God’s Hand Goal has a short body and is a bit chubby. Even so, Maradona has agile dribbling. Against players who have a tall body, Maradona has no problems. Precisely with his short body, he can even dodge quickly.
2. Levi Porter – 160 cm
European players are known to have the characteristics of a tall body and strong physique. Levi Roger Porter or commonly known as Levi Porter only has a height of 160 cm.
Levi Porter is one of the original products of the Leicester City youth academy. He had defended England for the U-16 and U-17 categories in early 2000. Levi Porter has a position as a left wing. In the 2018-2019 season, Levi Porter played for Shepshed Dynamo. July 2020, Levi Porter decided to retire.
3. Maximiliano Moralez – 160 cm
On the gridiron, underestimating the opponent becomes one step closer to defeat. When competing, a football player must be aware of his opponent no matter what the conditions are. Maybe the opponent has a short body, but if they have entered the professional level, it means that the player is not just a random player.
Take Maximiliano Moralez for example. This Argentinian player only has a height of 160 cm but he is not a random footballer. Playing as an attacking midfielder for the New York City FC team, he has played 158 games and scored 26 goals. He was an important player for the Argentina U-20 national team in 2007. He managed to bring Argentina to the World Cup and played alongside Sergio Aguero and Mauro Zarate.
4. Madson Formagini Caridade – 160 cm
When it comes to Brazilian players, most soccer players from the Samba country have good ball skills. Figures that cannot be forgotten like Kaka, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Rivaldo. All of them have incredible dribbling skills. There is one more player from Brazil who also has good dribbling skills named Madson Formagini Caridade.
People may underestimate him since he only has a height of 160 cm. But remember, Brazilian players have great dribbling skills, Madson too. Madson has a position as an attacking midfielder. He is known as a fast player and has a deadly free kick. Unfortunately, his bad attitude made his name sink.
5. Samuel Peter Lee – 157 cm
Liverpool is one of the most successful English football clubs in recent years thanks to manager Jurgen Klopp. Klopp managed to restore Liverpool’s popularity when he managed to break the title fast for 30 years. Talking about Liverpool, this football club has many legendary players. It is not Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, or Kevin Keegan who will be discussed, but the figure of Samuel Lee.
Samuel Peter Lee is an English midfielder who played for Liverpool from 1976 to 1986. What’s unique about Samuel Lee is that his body is relatively short for a midfielder, which is 157 cm. But he was never afraid to face any opponent. When following the European Cup in 1980-1981. Samuel Lee was assigned to oversee the movement of Bayern Munich player named Paul Breitner. Paul Breitner who has a height of 176 cm was bothered by Samuel Lee.
6. Benedict Vilakazi – 157 cm
Short body may be a shortage of a football athlete, but of course there are other positive things that can be found from the football player. Benedict Vilakazi may be short, but he developed other things to become a great football athlete. Moreover, his position is as a midfielder, so it is important for him to hone other skills so that he does not lose.
This South African player only has a height of 157 cm. For a midfielder, this is clearly an obstacle because he could be the weak point of the team he is defending. Vilakazki points out that his short stature doesn’t make him weak. He has a strong physique and leadership that earned him the nickname Little Napoleon.
The thing that made his career ruined because he was involved with a sex scandal in 2006. He was accused of rape. Despite being acquitted of accusations, Vilakazi’s career has never been the same as it used to be.
7. Jafal Rashed Al-Kuwari – 155 cm
Not many people glance at Qatar because it does not have strong football roots. But when this country has entered a football tournament, its presence cannot be underestimated. There is one football player from Qatar who may never be forgotten by Qataris. He is Jafar Rashed Al Kuwari.
Jafar Rashed Al Kuwari who played in the midfield position had defended the Qatar national team from 1992-2002. The only club he has played for is Al Sadd from 1990-2009. In the Qatar national team, Jafar Rashed Al Kuwari was so respected that he was appointed team captain. Retired as an athlete, Jafar Rashed Al Kuwari now works as manager and spokesperson for Al Sadd.
8. Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios – 154 cm
Diego Armando Maradona is not the only footballer from Argentina who is short. There are still other football players who are even shorter than Maradona. He is Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios. The position of Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios is arguably very vital, namely as a striker. The striker’s position is always identified with a tall and strong figure in order to be able to duel with opposing defenders.
Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios is known to only have a height of 154 cm. Very short for the size of an Argentine player who plays as a striker. In 2009, he became the youngest player ever to defend River Plate at 16 years, 7 months and 2 days. Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios played for the Argentina national team in 2009 for the U-17 World Cup.
9. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes – 154 cm
If you are quite surprised that in Brazil there is a player with a height of 160 cm named Madson Formagini Caridade, you will be even more surprised to know that there is a football player who is also from Brazil but is even shorter than Madson. This is Elton Jose Xavier Gomes, a Brazilian player who plays as a 36-year-old attacking midfielder.
Elton Jose Xavier Gomes is only 154 cm tall, the same as Daniel Alberto Villalva Barrios. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes studied at the Corinthians academy and briefly defended Corinthians. He is known to defend the club from the United Arab Emirates, Al-Hamriyah in the 2020-2021 season.
10. Marcin Garuch – 153 cm
A football player must know what his weaknesses and strengths are. If he realizes that his body is small, then he must increase other factors in himself in order to compete with opposing players. Maricn Garuch, who knows that he is not gifted with a tall body, trains his skills so that he can become a dangerous football player.
Marcin Garuch became the shortest soccer player ever. He is only 153 cm tall, very short for a player who plays as a midfielder. He has been with the Miedz Legnica team for the longest time, a football club in Poland for the 2004-2016 season. Marcin Garuch is short, but he is good at dribbling and executing set pieces.
