Football is a sport that requires mainly strength, speed, and agility. While height can be an advantage in certain positions, there are some players who have proven that height doesn’t always matter. In this article, we will take a look at the shortest football players in 2024.
Despite being vertically challenged, these individuals are still able to do the business and stamp their authority on the pitch.
Continue reading as we take a look the shortest soccer players in the world, who are currently playing.
15 Shortest Soccer Players In The World (2025)
Here are the 12 shortest players in the world in 2024 based on their respective heights.
1. Marcin Garuch – 1.54 metres
Little-known Polish player Garuch is undoubtedly one of the shortest players you will see currently active in world football.
He’s also regarded as the shortest professional soccer player in Europe.
Standing at just 1.54 metres tall (5 feet 0.63 inches) the Polish second division player is blessed with good technical skills and excellent ball control.
2. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes – 1.54 metres
At just 1.54 metres tall, the Brazilian attacking midfielder is one of the shortest players in the world game.
Blessed with good pace and incredible dribbling skills Elton made his name playing for Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Nassr, Al-Hamriyah, and Al-Fateh.
3. Daniel Villalva – 1.55 metres
The pint-sized Argentine played mostly in his native Argentina and Mexico. The winger stands at 1.55 metres tall.
He is a skillful attacker, and in 2009, he became the youngest player ever to feature for River Plate.
He currently plays for Atlético La Paz in Argentina.
4. Saliu Popoola – 1.57 metres
Saliu Popoola is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for midfielder for Moroccan club Wydad Fès.
The 29-year-old is one of the shortest African footballers in the world.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist was considered the third shortest footballer in the world in 2015.
5. Madson Formagini Caridade – 1.57 metres
Madson is a veteran Brazilian footballer that stands at 1.57 m (5 ft 2 inches). He began his career on Vasco de Gama, before playing for a number of clubs, including Santos in Brazil.
The 36-year-old is a skillful attacking midfielder with excellent set-piece abilities. He currently plays for Fortaleza in Brazil.
6. Yeferson Soteldo – 1.59 metres
Yeferson Soteldo is a professional footballer from Venezuela, known for his position as a left winger, though he is versatile enough to play in various attacking roles.
Born on June 30, 1997, in Caracas, Venezuela, Soteldo is recognized for his short stature, standing at 159 cm (5’3″).
His height makes him one of the shortest footballers in the world, which is quite unusual in the professional realm where players often tower well over six feet.
He plays for Gremio on loan from Santos.
7. Maximiliano Moralez – 1.60 metres
The attacking midfielder currently plays in the for Argentine Primera División club Racing, and has a single cap for his native Argentina.
He stands at 1.60 metres tall and has formerly played for Atalanta in the Italian Serie A and New York City FC in the MLS.
Maximiliano is nicknamed frasquito, which means little flask in English.
8. Lorenzo Insigne – 1.63 metres
The former SSC Napoli captain is one of the shortest players in the game at the moment. Lorenzo stands at 1.63 metres tall or 5 feet 4.173 inches.
Inspite of his size Insigne is a colossus on the pitch. His incisive and direct dribbling were on display during the last 2020 Euros.
The 34-year-old also packs a powerful shot which helped his country Italy claim their second Euro title. Lorenzo Insigne is currently a player of Toronto FC in the MLS.
Despite his age, he is still one of the best players in the MLS.
9. Tariq Lamptey (1.63 meters)
Brighton & Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey is notably the shortest player in the entire Premier League, standing at just 5’4″ (1.63 meters).
Despite his stature, Lamptey is recognized as one of the league’s most talented footballers.
A graduate of Chelsea’s esteemed Cobham academy, he has made a significant impact since his move to Brighton.
Although his aerial duel success is limited, winning just 0.2 per game, Lamptey more than makes up for it with his remarkable speed, agility, and technical prowess.
His skill in navigating tight spaces and delivering accurate crosses as a fullback makes him an invaluable player on the pitch.
10. Ryan Fraser (1.63 meters)
Ryan Fraser, one of the shortest footballers in the Premier League at 5’4″ (1.63 meters), is primarily a left-winger known for his dynamic and resilient playing style.
Described by Charlie Nicholas as a “little pocket dynamo,” Fraser has developed a muscular build to handle the physical demands of the game.
Initially joining Southampton on a season-long loan on August 25, 2023, his strong performances earned him a permanent two-year contract with the club on August 30, 2024.
Despite his height, Fraser’s agility and technical skills make him a significant asset on the pitch.
11. Marco Verrati – 1.65 metres
The former Paris Saint Germain midfielder helped his country Italy win the Euro 2020 tournament.
The diminutive Italian height is at 1.65 metres tall, or 5 feet 4.961 inches.
He is arguably one of the best midfielders in the world right now.
12. Mathieu Valbuena – 1.67 metres
The diminutive former French international is another player not blessed with great height.
Even though he stands at 1.67 metres tall (or 5 feet 5.748 inches), Valbuena is still able to pull his weight. His dribbling ability and creativity have made him an asset in attack.
The 36-year-old is currently on the books of Greek side, Olympiacos.
Mathieu is also remembered for a news scandal involving him and ex-France teammate Karim Benzema.
13. Joe Allen – 1.68 metres
The Welsh footballer stands at about 1.68 metres. His small size gives him good ball control and stability whenever facing different opposition.
Despite his stature, Allen is able to stand toe to toe with bigger players, which is no surprise considering that he plays for a physically demanding team like Stoke City.
The former Liverpool midfielder was part of the Wales national team that was knocked out in the second round of the 2020 Euros. He currently plays for EFL Championship club Swansea City.
14. Alexis Sanchez – 1.68 metres
At 1.68 meters tall, the Chilean could easily be mistaken as being a pushover, but don’t be deceived the former FC Barcelona, and Arsenal FC is one of the fiercest and most prolific strikers of his generation.
Alexis Sanchez is currently a player for Inter Milan, although he previously played for Olympique Marseille in the French Ligue 1.
15. Xherdan Shaqiri – 1.69 metres
The Swiss pocket rocket is one of the most explosive and dynamic players in the game.
Standing at 1.69 metres tall, the former Liverpool FC attacker is able to use his low center of gravity to dribble effectively.
Shaqiri’s muscular physique also helps him generate power when unleashing his thunderous shots.
Xherdan was part of the Switzerland national team that unfortunately lost on penalties in the quarterfinals of the recently concluded Euro 2020. He is one of the top shortest football players in 2021.
Xherdan Shaqiri is one of the best players in the MLS were he plays for Chicago Fire.
