Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and the 10 Shortest Footballers Worldwide

The world of football shows that skill can outshine height. Many great players under 5 feet 8 inches have left their mark on the sport, proving that technical talent matters most.

• 10. Xherdan Shaqiri: 5 ft 7 in. Born in 1991, this Swiss player of Yugoslavian and Albanian roots is famous for his speed and control. He has played for Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. Shaqiri earned nicknames like "Alpine Messi" for his unpredictable play and sharp vision. He shone at the 2014 World Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Honduras.
• 9. Lionel Messi: 5 ft 7 in. Born in 1987, he captains Inter Miami and Argentina's national team. Messi boasts eight Ballon d'Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. His trophy haul with Barcelona includes ten La Liga titles and four Champions League wins. Internationally, he led Argentina to Copa América victory in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022.
• 8. Alexis Sanchez: 5 ft 6.5 in. The Chilean forward, born in 1988, continues playing strongly at 35. His career includes time at Manchester United and Barcelona, where he was the shortest player in La Liga at one point.
• 7. Joe Allen: 5 ft 6 in. This Welsh midfielder, born in 1990, plays for Swansea City. Starting professionally at 16 with Swansea, Allen moved to Liverpool for £15 million and later Stoke City for £13 million. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
• 6. N'Golo Kanté: 5 ft 6 in. Known for his tireless midfield work, Kanté started in France’s lower leagues before winning the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016. Chelsea signed him for £32 million in 2017, where he won several trophies and the 2018 World Cup with France.
• 5. Yuya Osako: 5 ft 5 in. A key Japanese player, Osako scored Japan’s historic goal against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup. He also played an important role at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, helping Japan reach the final.
• 4. Marco Verratti: 5 ft 4 in. The Italian midfielder started at Pescara and now stars for Al-Arabi in Qatar. Known for his passing and vision, Verratti has won nine Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and helped Italy win Euro 2020.
• 3. Lorenzo Insigne: 5 ft 3 in. Insigne began with Napoli in 2009 and is known for his creativity and free-kick skills. He contributed to Italy’s success at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
• 2. Daniel Villalva: 5 ft 0 in. Nicknamed "Keko," this Argentine attacking midfielder debuted at River Plate aged 16. Despite a serious injury early on, he returned to play and represented Argentina at youth levels including the 2009 South American Championship and World Cup.
• 1. Elton Jose Xavier Gomes: 5 ft 0 in. Better known as Élton Arábia, this Brazilian attacking midfielder earned his nickname during his time playing in Saudi Arabia. He stands as the shortest among the top 10 listed footballers worldwide.