Short players are often criticised for not having aerial threat but I think they rather have an advantage over tall players because they have a low center of gravity which allows them to be closer to the ball and control it easily. Discuss?

Idk but...
Diego Maradona - 5'5
Lionel Messi - 5'7
Pele - 5'8
'nuff said.

It depends on the position and style of play. In goal and center defense, taller players usually have an advantage. In positions where speed and agility is necessary, shorter players might be better off. If you want to head balls, some more centimeters might be not so bad, either.

Messi, Marin, Podolski, Miccoli, Cazorla, Pirlo, Iniesta, Giovinco, Del Piero, etc are current examples of.short players with excellent ball control. I believe Gotze, Silva, and Rinery are short too but im not sure.

Baggio, Pele, and just a few examples of past legends with excellent ball control that were short.

No, not an advantage, not a definitive one anyways
There just happens to be a lot of smaller players that are gifted

However, there have been taller players with a magical touch too.. Zidane, Rivaldo, Platini

Taller players also have a longer stride with the ball, take Yaya Toure driving through the midfield as an example

It just comes down to style, shorter players can turn quicker, that change of direction but taller players have that long stride which is difficult to defend against as well

Giggity5313 wrote:

Donuts wrote:Idk but...
Diego Maradona - 5'5
Lionel Messi - 5'7
Pele - 5'8
'nuff said.

pele is 5'9, which is average height. Nothing short about that.

http://www.celebheights.com/s/-Pele-3252.html
http://www.pitara.com/magazine/people/online.asp?story=1
Every article/biography says 172cm
those two links were the first google searches feel free to prove me otherwise with anything other then your opinion.

Top teams who want to play good football shouldn't worry about aerial threat. In fact it should be one of the last things they look for in a player. Good technique, vision, dribbling, agility etc etc should be the most important.

And it's usually the shorter players who possess those abilities. However there are taller players too.

Tall = 6ft and over?

Height is overrated. Don't think it matters too much whether you're tall or small. I think if you're at one of the extremes it can be a disadvantage eg. Crouch and Piatti are severely limited.

Messi etc have found a way to make their physique work for them but they aren't good because they're small. As said, there have been plenty of players over 6ft with super technique and dribbling.

Personally, I'm 6"2' but still as fast as smaller players. Technique is probably my strength as well. One thing I'll note is that I'm not as explosive or quick off the make as I'd be if I were a bit shorter.

Doesnt make a lick of difference.

Touch, control and things like these are skills. Skills are learnt and improved through hard work, good coaching and intelligence.

Low center of gravity? Yes. But if you dont have fundamental good skills you arent getting past anyone regardless of how small you are.

Generally speaking, shorter players have shorter stride lengths (depends on leg length more than overall height but its very rare someone is 5'4 with the leg length of someone 6'0) and therefore have the possibility of having quick acceleration (time it takes to reach top speed) all things being equal, but they are never equal so it doesnt matter anyway.

You could make the same argument about left-footed players. Nearly every GOAT forward was left-footed. Messi, Puskas, Rivellino, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano... for a segment that represents just 10% of the general population they sure have a presence.

Di Stefano and Cruyff were right footed.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:You could make the same argument about left-footed players. Nearly every GOAT forward was left-footed. Messi, Puskas, Rivellino, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano... for a segment that represents just 10% of the general population they sure have a presence.

Cruyff and Di Stefano were right footed

"I was right-footed, so my father didn't let me play unless I would shoot the ball with my left foot." Di Stéfano.

He was naturally right footed but his left footed shots would have deceived anyone tbf

It seems I was fooled, my bad. Still sustain that they're very over represented for a segment that represents 10% of the general population.

having a low center of gravity does play a role imo. you will never see players like crouch have the same control over the ball as does cazorla, messi, or mata.

that is not to say that its impossible for taller players to have good ball control, but shorter players will ALWAYS have the initial advantage as they have that lower center of gravity which allows them to have quicker touches closer to the ball.

there are 2 major factors in ball control (dribbling really) skill with touch and center of gravity.

Pedram wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:You could make the same argument about left-footed players. Nearly every GOAT forward was left-footed. Messi, Puskas, Rivellino, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano... for a segment that represents just 10% of the general population they sure have a presence.

Is Messi left handed too ?

Messi is Right handed, if you see any autograph videos he signs with his right or draws with his right *the commercials for television etc*

Giggity5313 wrote:BTW, not as many players are short as you think.

5'9, even 5'8 and up is by no means "midget" short.

So 5'8 is not a midget but you call Messi, who is just one inch below, a midget? I'd understand Maradona but lol?

Giggity5313 wrote:messi is 5'6 1/2. That's getting there for sure.
http://www.celebheights.com/s/Lionel-Messi-47593.html

In humans, dwarfism is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 147 cm (58 inches)

So, under 5 feet would be considered a 'midget' which Messi is comfortably above....