Conventional wisdom suggests that height is advantageous, but it can often be incorrect. Studies have linked height to happiness and higher salaries, though this may come at the expense of shorter lifespans.
In certain sports like basketball, rowing (excluding the cox), and volleyball (excluding the libero), elite athletes tend to be taller. Olympic swimmers have also become larger in recent decades.
Different sports, their rules, and scoring methods favor specific body types. For example, athletes in gymnastics, horse riding, and marathon running are generally smaller. Factors beyond just height, such as wingspan in swimming and leg length in marathon running, can also impact performance predictions.
In football, height has historically played a role, though exceptions like Lionel Messi, who stands at 5ft 7in, have thrived despite not being tall. Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, had a growth hormone deficiency as a child.
Lionel Messi’s lack of height has not prevented him from winning the Ballon d’Or eight times (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Assessing height for football performance benefits over time is complex due to overall human height increases. A study found a steady increase in player height in the English top division between 1973 and 2013, unrelated to team performance.
Recent champions in the top European leagues have had squads below the league’s average height, emphasizing balance and versatility. Teams like Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen have excelled with mixed formations and player profiles.
European title-winners and league height