Shortest Football Player: Top 10 Shortest Footballers in 2026

There is consensus that tall players have an advantage over the shortest football player in football. However, it has been proven on various occasions that size does not matter in football by some of the greatest football players of all time, who also happen to be the shortest footballers. As a matter of fact, some of the shortest players in football, are Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pelé, and Roberto Carlos.

They used their short stature and low centre of gravity to get past defenders with ease, and who else than footballing icon Lionel Messi for example, is an elite reference for one of the best shortest football players. While being tall or short has its advantages in every sport, it is never a guarantee of genius. Today, we will be taking a look at the shortest footballers in the world 2026 who have not let their height come in between their purpose.

Shortest Football Players: Top 10 List

The table below contains the 10 world’s shortest footballers who step on the pitch to represent their side. They dismantled the myth that only strong and tall players can make it to the elite list of professional players.

Who is the Shortest Footballer Right Now?

We have created a detailed list of the shortest football player who have redefined football with their gameplay and technique. The listed players below are examples that your body shape and size don’t define your success in the game, but your will does. Let’s find out who is the shortest football player.

10) Bernard (Atlético MG & Brazil)

The Brazilian forward Bernard has played at numerous clubs, but his career started gaining recognition when he won three Ukrainian Super League titles with Shakhtar Donetsk. After this, Merseyside club Everton signed him, where he amassed 84 appearances for the Toffees from 2018 to 2021. Bernard’s best moment at Everton was scoring the winning goal in an enthralling 5-4 win over Tottenham in an FA Cup fixture at Goodison Park. He scored the winning goal, which put Everton through to the quarter-finals. Bernard is an example that, even with his short height of 167cm, he still had goals and skills within him. He now plays for his boyhood club, Atlético Mineiro.

9) Marco Verratti (Al Duhail & Italy)

Marco Verratti has made a name for himself despite his short stature while playing for one of the best clubs in the world, PSG. The renowned Italian midfielder Verratti is currently playing for Al Duhail in Qatar. During his peak was regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the world. He spent a large part of his club career with the French club Paris Saint-Germain, making over 400 appearances and lifting 30 major trophies with the club. The Italian international is arguably the most successful player on the list of the shortest football players. With his country, Verratti won the Euro while leaving a mark on football as the shortest footballer.

8) Ryan Fraser (Scotland & Western Sydney)

The Scottish winger Ryan Fraser has made the best of his lower stature, making him very difficult to mark. He is a winger who is able to change directions in an instant due to his low centre of gravity. Ryan has made a name for himself in English football clubs, playing for the likes of Newcastle United, Ipswich Town, AFC Bournemouth and Southampton.

Overall, he has amassed more than 365 appearances in his career, scoring 42 goals and having 52 assists to his name. Ryan Fraser’s highlight of his career was at AFC Bournemouth, where he made 208 appearances across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and having 31 assists. The 163cm tall player now plays for Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.

7)Tariq Lamptey (Fiorentina & Ghana)

The Ghanaian international Tariq Lamptey was one of the most hyped talents back during his Chelsea days, since he even made it through the youth ranks for them. He eventually only got three appearances for the main team. However, Lamptey’s move to Brighton changed everything, and he is one of the few relatively short defenders out there currently in one of Europe’s top five leagues, Serie A. He had amassed 122 appearances at Brighton & Hove Albion, one of the shortest football players. Tariq’s best attribute is his endurance, blitzing speed and work rate. The 25-year-old is currently playing for ACF Fiorentina.

6) Lorenzo Insigne (Pescara & Italy)

The Italian winger Lorenzo Insigne was one of the best wingers the Serie A has seen in our era. His impressive tenure at SSC Napoli speaks for itself. Being a short winger, he fitted in through tight spaces easily and has no problem against strong defenders of bigger stature players since his technical ability and pace help him get past them well.

Despite having a great career at SSC Napoli, Insigne’s peak was in the delayed Euro 2020, which was held in 2021. He scored a decisive and crucial goal against Belgium in the quarter-finals and was a part of the team that played against England in the finals as well. He eventually won the Euro 2020 on penalties. Insigne and Toronto FC mutually parted ways, where he was one of the highest-paid players in the MLS.

5) Maxi Moralez ( New York City & Argentina)

The Argentine midfielder Maxi Moralez spent most of his career playing in South America, playing for Argentinian clubs. However, it was his much-deserved move to Atalanta BC in Serie A that led to attracting the limelight as the shortest footballer. He is an attacking midfielder who came to Atalanta BC without any prior experience in any of the top five leagues or any league remotely close to it, but still provided immediate impact.

Maxi racked up 148 appearances for Bergamo side Atalanta BC across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and assisting 27 times. Currently, the 39-year-old playmaker is playing for New York City in the Major League Soccer, where he has scored 41 goals and has 82 assists in 274 appearances for the New York City-based club.

5) Yeferson Soteldo (Fluminense & Venezuela)

The Venezuelan international Yeferson Soteldo is our next pick; his height is only 159 cm, but when it comes to blistering pace, creative flair and energy, he is commendable. He is currently playing for Brazilian giants Fluminense as a winger; however, he has often been called out for his inconsistency even led to limited appearances at times, but his playing style often creates joy amongst the fans.

Soteldo has been a journeyman, having played for several Brazilian clubs throughout his career and even spent time with MLS club Toronto. He was a part of the squad Zamora FC, which won the 2016 Venezuelan title in 2016. He is a very versatile player who has played as a left-winger, right-winger, striker, supporting striker, attacking midfielder, and even as a left and right midfielder in his career.

3) Saliu Popoola (Amal Tiznit & Nigeria)

The Niergian attacking midfielder Saliu Popoola is a name which is well known figure in African club football. He is currently playing his club football in Morocco for Amal Tiznit and is one of the shortest football player with 157 cm in height. He mostly played in lesser-known leagues, but the highlight of his career remains Popoola's stint with French club FC Metz, though he did not make many appearances for them. Additionally, the 31-year-old even won five international caps for the Nigeria national football team.

2) Daniel Villalva (Boca Unidos & Argentina)

Daniel Villalva is the youngest ever player to play for Argentine club River Plate, a record which he broke in 2009 when he was just 16 years old. He is naturally a forward who can play in multiple positions, often playing as a left or right winger and even as an attacking midfielder. Notably, he has spent the majority of his career in Argentina with over 400 club appearances in total.

The shortest football player, Villalva, spent five years at River Plate and was unfortunately a part of their side that got relegated to the second division of Argentine football for the first time in 110 years. Overall, he has amassed 151 appearances in his club career, scoring 19 goals and having 12 assists for Tiburones Rojos.

1) Elton José Xavier Gomes (Zumbi FC & Brazil)

Elton José Xavier Gomes is the shortest footballer in the world, only 154cm tall in stature. The Brazilian international plays for Brazilian club Zumbi EC as an attacking midfielder or winger. The attacking midfielder had no problems due to his short stature and easily slipped through tight spaces, and was key in dictating the tempo of the game and creating goal-scoring situations.

Born in Palmeira dos Índios, the left-footed creative player has represented a host of clubs around the globe, including Corinthians and Al Nassr, he has amassed 372 club appearances, scoring 82 goals and having 56 assists throughout his career, till now.