On January 15 this year, the 36-year-old Lionel Messi beat out Mbappe and Haaland to crown the title of The Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2023, becoming the first player to win the award 3 times.
Additionally, in the previous year, Messi won the Ligue 1 title, was named to the league’s Best XI, and also became the all-time leading scorer in the Big Five European leagues. After joining Inter Miami in the MLS, Messi went on to win the North American League Cup.
However, many people are curious about the height of this Argentine World Cup superstar and want to know just “how tall is Messi?“
How Tall Is Messi?
How tall is Messi? Without measuring the man with a tape measure yourself, it’s hard to know an exact height.
However, getting evidence from where he recently underwent a full medical evaluation seems like a fair way to go.
According to his current club, Inter Miami CF’s website, Messi stands at 1.7 meters, about 5 feet 7 inches.
Unlike many other tall and muscular soccer players, Messi doesn’t have a height advantage. But honestly, you don’t need to be tall to play soccer.
Although being just 5 feet 7 inches, Messi’s feet are very flexible. His dribbling and ball control ability are excellent, and the header attack goal is also superb. His dribbling past five players has become a legend.
But get this – the same guy who’s now a soccer superstar was diagnosed at age 11 with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), with doctors saying he wouldn’t grow past 4 feet 7 inches. So, how did this short boy turn around? Let’s read on!
Soccer Star Soars to New Heights with Growth Hormone!
Influenced by his father, Messi loved playing soccer from a young age and showed outstanding soccer talent since childhood. But little Messi was always shorter than the other kids and stopped growing when he was just nine. Until Messi was 11, his father took him to the hospital for a checkup.
After a thorough examination, the doctor told Messi’s father that Messi had Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) and predicted that without treatment, he’d likely max out at about 4 feet 7 inches.
GHD is an incidental disease with a 1 in 20,000 chance that affects 1 in 3,000 to 1 in 10,000 children. Without proper treatment, the development of his soccer career will be greatly limited.
This was a huge setback for Messi, who dreamed of playing soccer. But the doctors also offered another option: growth hormone injections. However, the treatment costs a steep $900 a month. For the son of a steelworker and part-time cleaner, this was almost impossible for Messi’s family to afford.
His home club, Newell’s Old Boys, briefly paid his bill but was unwilling to pay long-term for a kid whose future was uncertain. And River Plate, a top Argentine club interested in Messi, also rejected him after learning of his condition. These clubs that turned down little Messi probably couldn’t see that the sparkle in Messi’s eyes was not just tears but also a deep love for soccer.
But fate hadn’t given up on little Messi. A well-known agent, Minguella, got Messi a tryout with FC Barcelona. During the trial, Messi conquered almost everyone with his undeniable talent. So Minguella headed straight to a bar in Barcelona, where he found the club’s scout Rexach and drafted a temporary contract on a napkin. The next day, the napkin’s contents were transferred onto an official Barcelona letterhead.
The 12-year contract not only covered Messi’s expensive medical bills but also got specialists to tailor a series of leg exercises to aid his growth.
With this help, Messi fought his way up, scoring from his first to his 600th goal in just 683 games. Messi defended Barcelona’s trust in him with his strength and skill on the field.
How Does Messi’s Height Compare to Other Top Soccer Players?
How tall is Messi? Messi is considered a bit short for professional soccer players, especially compared to other top players.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
The debate over “Who’s better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?” is the biggest question in soccer since “Maradona or Pele?” So, how tall is Messi’s old rival Ronaldo? Well, this Portuguese superstar is significantly taller than Messi, standing at about 6 feet 2 inches (1.87 meters).
2. Neymar Jr
Neymar, Suarez, and Messi were once known as the South American ‘Big Three,’ creating the fearsome MSN trio at Barcelona. And Neymar, the Brazilian forward, is a bit taller than Messi, at around 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters).
3. Kylian Mbappe
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the final, which many consider one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played. Meanwhile, Messi scored twice, and the match ended 3-3, with Argentina winning in a penalty shootout. PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is also taller than Messi, standing about 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) tall.
4. Erling Haaland
At just 23, Haaland has already edged out Messi by winning the Ballon d’Or. The Norwegian striker is much taller than Messi, at around 6 feet 4 inches (1.94 meters), making him one of the tallest forwards at the top level.
FAQs About How Tall Is Messi
1. Is Messi's height considered short for a soccer player?
Yes, Messi's height is considered short compared to many professional soccer players, who often stand over 6 feet tall.
2. Are there other successful short soccer players like Messi?
Yes, there have been many successful short soccer players. Examples include Diego Maradona, who was also 5 feet 5 inches tall, and Philipp Lahm, who was around 5 feet 7 inches tall.
3. How old is Messi?
Messi was born on June 24, 1987. As of January 2024, he is now 36 years old.
4. What team does Messi play for?
After his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, Messi became the captain of Inter Miami, a team in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
5. Has Messi won a World Cup?
Yes, Messi led Argentina to a win over France in the 2022 World Cup final, ultimately lifting the World Cup trophy. His closest previous attempt was in 2014, when his team lost to Germany in the final.
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