Top 10 shortest football player in the world right now

Football, the king of sports globally, is often seen as the domain of tall and robust individuals. However, not every footballer necessarily possesses an impressive height. In fact, many renowned players stand below average height but shine brightly with their talent and exceptional abilities on the field. Let’s join premiumsoccertips to explore who the Shortest football player in the world is currently, with limited height yet still make history on the pitch.

Who is the shortest football player?

10. Maximiliano Nicolás Moralez (5ft 3″ or 160cm)

Argentine attacking midfielder Maximiliano “Maxi” Moralez has played for both Primera División club Racing and Serie A side Atalanta. Mostly due to his physique, he’s nicknamed ‘frasquito’ or ‘small flask’. He featured in the Argentine U20 team and spent a year as part of his country’s FIFA U20 World Cup-winning squad, notably partnering with Sergio Agüero in their frontline.

In the year 2017, Maxi entered into an agreement with New York City FC, securing a position as a Designated Player within the team – an MLS provision allowing US teams to recruit players who may exceed their specific salary cap. Throughout his career, Maxi consistently scored, tallying 103 goals in 576 appearances.

9. Rui Gil Soares de Barros (159 cm)

Rui Barros is a former Portuguese attacking midfielder who played for Porto, Juventus, and even France’s Ligue Un. In his 8 seasons at Porto, he scored 43 goals in 191 matches. Barros also represented the Portuguese national team 36 times, netting 4 goals for his country.

He established a solid reputation during his time at Juventus, although he couldn’t help Portugal overcome the FIFA World Cup 1990 qualifiers in Italy. In total, Barros made 409 club appearances. He was always a diligent, technically skilled midfielder, excelling in Dino Zoff’s counter-attacking lineup at Juventus.

8. Daniel Villalva (1m58, 1m58)

Daniel Villalva is an Argentine attacking midfielder currently playing for Primera Nacional club Ferro Carril Oeste, one of Argentina’s top clubs. Back in 2009, he became River Plate’s youngest-ever player, debuting as a substitute at the age of 16 years, 7 months, and two days.

In 2007, he made his first appearance for Argentina in the South American U15 Football Championship in Brazil. He quickly progressed to the U17 national team, where he even participated in the South American Championship in 2009, scoring three impressive goals in just five appearances.

7. Martin Pando (5ft 3″ or 158cm)

During the 1950s, Argentine striker Martín Pando showcased his skills for Plateense and Argentinos Juniors, both situated in Buenos Aires, prior to joining River Plate in 1962. Pando’s talent also earned him appearances for the Argentine national team in two FIFA World Cup 1962 qualifying matches, followed by participation in the tournament itself.

Unfortunately, Argentina was eliminated in the group stage with Pando’s lone appearance in the goalless draw against Hungary, where he also captained the team. He passed away in May 2021 at the age of 86. Pando made 53 appearances for River Plate and scored six goals, while for Argentina, he appeared 11 times with three international goals.

6. Madson Formagini Caridade (5ft 2″ or 157cm)

Known simply as Madson, the renowned Brazilian attacking midfielder stood out not only for his modest height but also for his set-piece execution and intricate passing style. Starting his career in the depths of Brazilian youth football, Madson eventually became a regular at both Vasco da Gama and Santos.

He would move to Qatari club Al-Khor in the mid-2010s as part of a short-term six-month deal and then return to Brazil in 2018 to join Fortaleza, a team that had just been promoted back to Brazil’s Serie A at the time. Throughout his career, he played 162 matches and scored 63 impressive goals for his various clubs.

5. Benedict Vilakazi (5ft 2″ or 157cm)

South African midfielder Benedict Vilakazi is recognized as one of the smallest professional international footballers of his time yet proud of both his strength and physicality. His two nicknames, “Tso” and “Little Napoleon,” seem to reflect his leadership skills on the pitch.

He played for Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK with short stints at Swaziland’s Malanti Chiefs and Botswana’s Notwane FC. To this day, Vilakwzi still holds the record for the all-time top goal scorer for Orlando Pirates with 52 goals. ‘Tso’ also serves as the head coach of Orange Vaal Professionals, a team competing in South Africa’s ABC Motsepe League, the third tier of South African football.

4. Vũ Thế Vương (156 cm)

Vu The Vuong was born in 1994 in the rice fields of Thai Binh, Vietnam. In seventh grade, he discovered his passion for football. From local tournaments to district level competitions, and finally being called up to the U13 Thai Binh team, the life of this studious young boy truly changed.

“Vuong is a quick and skillful player, but he lacks the stamina to play the full match. It’s best to bring him on in the second half for maximum impact. And indeed, what Vuong has shown from the start of the season has proved my belief in him was correct,” commented Coach Van Sy about his young protégé.

3. Jafal Rashed Al-Kuwari (5ft 1″ or 155cm)

Jafal Rashed Al-Kuwari is certainly one of the shortest footballers in the world. He is a Qatari midfielder, most notably known for his time with Al Sadd. Al-Kuwari was a member of the Qatar national team and even had spells as their captain.

He played 51 international matches from 1992 to 2002 and scored two goals. He officially retired from professional play in 2009 with a farewell match against Italian giants AC Milan. Al Kuwari also served as a team manager for Al Sadd and even one of their spokesmen. He is also known for his beach soccer career with the Qatar national beach soccer team.

2. Élton José Xavier Gomes (154cm)

Frequently referred to as Élton Arábia or simply Élton, this Brazilian attacking midfielder, who primarily operated on the left wing, initiated his professional journey at the renowned Romanian club Steaua București when he was 21 years old. In his early years, he immediately impressed both fans and coaches, with Steaua Bucharest’s Executive President Mihai Stoica praising his “amazing technique and dribbling skills”.

In 2007, he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, where he recently became the home of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Arabian adventure. Elton scored many goals and provided assists, endearing himself to Al Nasr fans. In 2017, he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah, where he later became the team captain and also played for several Qatari clubs.

1. Marcin Garuch (153 cm)

Marcin Garuch is widely regarded as the shortest professional footballer in the entire world. The Polish midfielder currently plays for National League club Miedź Legnica II and has gained a certain level of fame due to his lack of height.

At the age of 34, this veteran has only secured one title throughout his entire professional playing career, lifting the I Liga championship with Miedź Legnica II at the end of the 2021/22 season. Despite his notoriety for his height record, Garuch has played nearly 400 matches throughout his career and has scored 47 goals to date.

Conclude

In summary, the world of football boasts a diverse range of talents, and the players listed here exemplify the essence of the sport. Despite their diminutive stature, they have showcased exceptional skill, determination, and resilience, proving that success on the pitch transcends physical attributes. From Frederick Walden’s swift runs to Marcin Garuch’s unwavering commitment, their stories inspire us to redefine conventional notions of what it means to excel in football. These players serve as reminders that passion and dedication know no bounds, offering encouragement to aspiring footballers worldwide to pursue their dreams with unwavering fervor.

See more: 10 Tallest soccer players in the world (2024 Rankings)