Do the smallest players always play the biggest?

Maradona (5’5”), Messi (5’7”), and Pelé (5’8”) — three of the greatest soccer players of all time — all stood under 5’9”. This height is often used as a benchmark since it represents the average height of adult males in France. Historically, smaller players have often been seen as artists, while taller players were labeled as "brutes." It goes without saying that this generalization no longer holds, especially with players like Erling Haaland (6’4”) and Jude Bellingham (6’1”) showcasing technical and cognitive skills that, until recently, were thought to be the exclusive domain of shorter players.

The “Ballon d'Or” as a Revealing Indicator

Here’s an interesting observation. Out of the 30 nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, only 5 players are shorter than 5’9”*. Hardly enough to declare technical superiority for smaller players. This marks a notable shift from the 2010 Ballon d'Or podium, which celebrated three "giants" at 5’7” — Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi. So, what should we make of this growing trend favoring taller, more athletic builds? Does it signal a turning point in soccer history, or is it simply a coincidence where taller players happened to dominate for a season? For the first clue, we turn to Pascal Gastien, former coach of Clermont Foot (France) and recent retiree:  "Generally speaking, I’ve noticed that clubs tend to favor players over 6’3”. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in the average height of team rosters. But regarding the Ballon d'Or 2024 nominees, I think it’s more of a temporary anomaly than a long-term trend." Joan Vila, the former director and head of methodology of La Masia — the iconic FC Barcelona academy that trained players like Xavi, Messi, and Iniesta — offered this perspective : "You don’t have to be small to play great soccer. Physical strength and height can be undeniable assets, but throughout my career, I’ve noticed that players under 5’9” who reach the highest level are often incredibly talented because they think one step ahead." In other words, it’s the classic story of smaller players compensating for their physical disadvantage by sharpening their ability to read information and their situational intelligence.

"A youth academy director in France told me that at the end of their time in the academy, three 6’1” players are far easier to sell than three 5’7” players"

This point is reinforced by Gilles Thiéblemont, director of the Grand Est regional training center in France : "Back in the day, when we’d get together to play soccer in the town square or a parking lot, you’d have larger-bodied kids, skinny kids, short kids, tall kids, children, and teenagers — and it didn’t stop anyone from playing against each other. The smaller kids adapted, and this helped develop their soccer IQ." While everyone agrees on the capabilities of "smaller" players, the commercialization of players creates an unsettling backdrop. Patrick La Spina, an expert in player development, explains it clearly: "A youth academy director in France told me that, at the end of their time in the academy, three 6’1” players are far easier to sell than three 5’7” players — whether to the head coach or potential clubs looking to acquire players. In fact, I’ve noticed that the clubs most likely to quote Johan Cruyff in their locker rooms are often the same ones whose methods and decisions are completely contrary to his philosophy, which emphasized game intelligence over athletic abilities."

Only Four Out of Twenty-Six Players Under 5’9” in Spain’s Euro Championship-Winning Squad

Naturally, the Spanish national team is often seen as a haven for smaller, technical players, inspired by the image of the 5’7” maestro controlling the game. But that idea doesn’t fully hold up when you look at Luis de la Fuente’s squad for the European Championship. Only four players under 5’9” were part of his 26-man roster: Cucurella, Grimaldo, Carvajal, and Jesus Navas. This weakens the narrative that Spanish coaches prefer smaller players. The same observation can be made at FC Barcelona, where the proportion of "pocket-sized" players is less pronounced, even if the club remains a welcoming haven for those who lack height. This evolution, combined with Ballon d'Or nominations, emotional attachments, and pragmatic decisions, forms the basis for the various arguments made by the experts interviewed here. One clear takeaway comes from former player and professional coach Alain Fiard (5’5”): "What happens with smaller players is that they stand out more than average-sized players..." In the end, maybe the greatness of a player is determined more by the eye of the beholder than by any fixed metrics.

* Phil Foden (Manchester City), 5’7”; Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), 5’7”; Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), 5’7”; Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), 5’8”; Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), 5’8”

Spain: The Promised Land?

Among the dominant soccer nations, Spain is often seen as the country where smaller players face the least discrimination — at least according to popular belief. But is this really the case? Here are some points for reflection and discussion.

Top Spanish Coaches Bet on Smaller Players

Xabi Alonso and Pep Guardiola, the Spanish coaches leading champion teams in the Premier League and Bundesliga, are known for their reliance on smaller players. This observation is supported by the trust they place in players under 5’9” (1.75m) as key components of their squad rotations. Here’s a look at the smaller players who ranked among the five most-used players by these Spanish coaches during the 2023/2024 season.

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City): Bernardo Silva (5’8”), Phil Foden (5’7”), Julián Álvarez (5’7”)

Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen): Jeremie Frimpong (5’8”), Alejandro Grimaldo (5’7”)

Luis Enrique, who led PSG to a title, had fewer opportunities to feature smaller players since his squad only included two players under 5’9” (1.75m). Vitinha, the second most-used player on the team with 28 starts, and Lee Kang-In (5’8” / 1.73m), who ranked only 15th in terms of playing time, were the only "small" players regularly used. This raises a legitimate question: Is the French Ligue 1 more hesitant to trust smaller players?

"The Spaniards understood before everyone else that soccer is, by nature, a cognitive sport."

Why do the Spanish have such a preference for so-called "small" players? Patrick La Spina offers some insight below:

"The Spaniards understood before everyone else that soccer is, by nature, a cognitive sport — not an athletic one. And they structured their entire training system around this simple idea. When the priority is to interpret situations and make the right decisions at the right time, smaller players have every chance to thrive. In that sense, I believe there’s a significant difference between Spain and countries like France. For example, a French academy director once told me that, at the end of their time with the academy, three 6’1” (1.85m) players are far easier to sell than three 5’7” (1.70m) players. This applies both internally, when dealing with the first-team coach, and externally, when presenting players to clubs looking to acquire players. I don't think you would ever hear someone say something like that in Spain.”

"Yes, of course, you only have to look at the importance of players like Busquets (6'2" / 1.89m) at Barcelona or Rodri (6'3" / 1.90m) at Manchester City to understand this. That being said, it’s also true that smaller players who reach the highest level are often extremely talented and valuable in ball possession. This is simply because they manage to position themselves in spaces where the opponent isn’t present, thereby avoiding duels that could disrupt possession. This is a clear sign of players who think one step ahead. In reality, these players are often clever and intelligent when it comes to reading the game. But I want to emphasize that you don’t have to be small to play soccer at a high level. Having good size can also be an undeniable asset."