Football is a sport where physical attributes play a big role in a player’s success. Height is an essential factor in this sport, and it varies from position to position. Let’s take a closer look at the height of some of the most famous football players and the average height for each position.
Goalkeepers:
The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands in the game, and they need to be tall to cover as much of the goal as possible. The average height for a goalkeeper is around 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm).
| Name | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Alisson Becker | 6’3″ | 191 |
| Jan Oblak | 6’2″ | 188 |
| Manuel Neuer | 6’4″ | 193 |
| Thibaut Courtois | 6’6″ | 198 |
| David de Gea | 6’4″ | 193 |
Defenders:
Defenders are responsible for protecting the goal and stopping the opposing team’s attackers. The average height for a defender is around 6 feet (183 cm).
| Name | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Virgil van Dijk | 6’4″ | 193 |
| Kalidou Koulibaly | 6’4″ | 193 |
| Giorgio Chiellini | 6’2″ | 188 |
| Sergio Ramos | 6’0″ | 183 |
| Aymeric Laporte | 6’2″ | 188 |
Midfielders:
Midfielders are the players who connect the defenders to the attackers and are responsible for creating scoring opportunities. The average height for a midfielder is around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm).
| Name | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Pogba | 6’3″ | 191 |
| N’Golo Kante | 5’6″ | 168 |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 5’11” | 180 |
| Luka Modric | 5’8″ | 173 |
| Frenkie de Jong | 5’11” | 180 |
Forwards:
Forwards are the players who are responsible for scoring goals. They need to be agile and quick to maneuver around the defenders. The average height for a forward is around 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm).
| Name | Height (ft/in) | Height (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 6’2″ | 188 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 6’0″ | 183 |
| Lionel Messi | 5’7″ | 170 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 5’10” | 178 |
| Harry Kane | 6’2″ | 188 |
It’s interesting to note that there is a significant difference in height between different positions in football. The goalkeeper, being the tallest, has an average height of around 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). Defenders are slightly shorter, with an average height of around 6 feet (183 cm), while midfielders are slightly shorter at around 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm). Forwards are the shortest, with an average height of around 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm).
Height is a critical factor in football, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Skill, speed, and agility are equally important. However, having the right height for the position can give a player an added advantage on the field.
