Exploring the impact of height in soccer, we turn our attention to the tallest soccer players in the game.
In soccer, where agility and skill usually matter most, height isn’t always an obvious advantage. Still, some impressive players break the mold, using their tall stature to make a big impact.
Today, we’re curious: does their height really play a key role in improving their soccer skills to extraordinary heights?
These players, going beyond the usual expectations, have embraced their distinctive physical traits, giving us a new angle on how height can matter in this beautiful game.
Football (soccer) players find success in various shapes and sizes, but specific physical traits, like height, can significantly impact their performance.
Goalkeepers, in particular, benefit from height and arm span reach. On the field, taller players with a strong jump and good positioning gain an edge in aerial contests.
- 1. Simon Bloch Jorgensen (6ft 11″ or 210cm)
- 2. Kristof van Hout (6ft 10″ or 208cm)
- 3. Paul Millar (6ft 10″ or 208cm)
- 4. Tomáš Holý (6ft 9.2″ or 206cm)
- 5. Kyle Hudlin (6ft 9″ or 206cm)
- 6. Vanja Iveša (6ft 9″ or 205cm)
- 7. Dino Hodzic (6ft 9″ or 206cm)
- 8. Lucas Bergström (6ft 8.7″ or 205cm)
- 9. Yang Changpeng (6ft 8.5″ or 204cm)
- 10. Jacob Samnik (6ft 8.5″ or 204cm)
- 11. Øyvind Hoås (6ft 8.4″ or 204cm)
- 12. Kjell Scherpen (6ft 8.3″ or 204cm)
- 13. Lacina Traore (6ft 8″ or 203cm)
- 14. Mikkel Mena Qvist (6ft 7.9″ or 203cm)
1. Simon Bloch Jorgensen (6ft 11″ or 210cm)
Bloch kicked off his career with Frem, FC Copenhagen, B.93, and B.1908, earning the record of being the tallest soccer player in history.
He parted ways with Frem in November 2016 by mutual consent after 53 appearances.
During the 2016–17 season, he played a single game for Waltham Forest in the Essex Senior League. Moving on, he joined Brønshøj in March 2017 before making a move to Accrington Stanley in August 2017.
Although his time with Accrington Stanley only included one appearance in the EFL Cup on August 8, 2017, Bloch continued his soccer journey.
He landed at Whitehawk in the National League South, adding four league appearances to his professional record.
2. Kristof van Hout (6ft 10″ or 208cm)
The 36-year-old goalkeeper holds the record of the second tallest soccer player and goalkeeper in the world, towering at an impressive 6 feet 10 inches.
Starting his career in the Netherlands at Willem II, the same club as Jaap Stam, he later joined the PSV squad.
His journey continued with a stint at the Belgian side K.V. Kortrijk before signing a three-year contract with Standard Liege on August 6, 2009.
Notably, he also served as the goalkeeper for the Indian Super League club Delhi Dynamos FC during the 2014-15 season.
As of 2022, he is a squad member of the Belgian Pro League club Lommel SK. Thanks to his remarkable height of 6 feet 10 inches, this towering goalkeeper doesn’t even need to jump to catch incoming corners.
3. Paul Millar (6ft 10″ or 208cm)
Scottish footballer Paul Millar, renowned for his time at Elgin City F.C. and his recent stint with Deveronvale, stands out as one of the tallest players in world football, measuring an impressive six feet and ten inches.
Millar joined Elgin City F.C. in January 2010 under the management of Ross Jack, catching attention during a Royal Air Force event at the club’s stadium.
In a unique feat, he remains the only Elgin City F.C. player to score in the League Two playoffs, securing a 1–0 victory against Albion Rovers with an expertly dispatched volley in the first leg at Borough Briggs.
Post-Elgin City F.C., Millar contributed to Formartine United during the 2014-15 season. Alongside his football endeavors, he serves as a full-time fireman stationed at the RAF Kinloss base in Moray, located in the Highland areas of Scotland.
Recognizing his accomplishments, Kirkcaldy YM honored Paul Millar by inducting him into their hall of fame at their annual award ceremony.
4. Tomáš Holý (6ft 9.2″ or 206cm)
The towering Czech goalkeeper currently holds the title of the tallest soccer player in the world. His professional journey began at Sparta Prague, where he played for their reserve team from 2010 to 2012.
He ventured on loan to several Czech sides, including Vlašim, Viktoria Žižkov, and Fastav Zlín.
In a surprising move, Holý made the switch to English soccer with Gillingham, where he spent two-and-a-half seasons, amassing over 100 appearances.
Following this, he transferred to Ipswich Town, where he became the primary goalkeeper for almost two full seasons.
Holý also featured for Cambridge United and Port Vale before making a free transfer to Carlisle United in June 2022. His international experience includes representing the Czech Republic, earning caps up to the under-18 youth level.
5. Kyle Hudlin (6ft 9″ or 206cm)
The only English soccer player on this list is said to be the tallest outfield pro playing in 2023 and one of the tallest soccer players worldwide.
This giant striker currently rocks with Huddersfield Town in the English Football League Championship.
Hudlin, starting from humble roots, worked his way up through lower leagues to the top of British football. He scored 21 goals in 87 games for various clubs.
For a dude so big and among soccer’s tallest, Hudlin surprisingly moves quickly, has a killer touch, and, being so tall, dominates in the air.
6. Vanja Iveša (6ft 9″ or 205cm)
A retired Croatian football goalkeeper, wrapped up his career with NK Opatija.
Standing at over 2 meters tall, Iveša’s remarkable professional football journey spanned an impressive 26 years, during which he played for various clubs in Croatia, Turkey, and Australia.
A noteworthy moment in his career occurred on February 17, 2018, when he became the oldest player ever to play in the Croatian First Football League. Throughout his career, he showcased his skills with clubs such as Elazığspor in Turkey, NK Istra (where he made his debut in 1995), Sydney United FC in Australia, NK Zminj, and Eskişehirspor in Turkey.
7. Dino Hodzic (6ft 9″ or 206cm)
Towering at a staggering 6ft 9″ or 206 centimeters, this 27-year-old goalkeeper from Croatia dwarfs most other professional players globally! Despite being relatively unknown in many parts of the world, he ranks among the top 3 tallest soccer players worldwide.
Recently, Hodzic made a move from IA Akranes to join the second-tier club Lengjudeild in Iceland during the spring of 2023.
With his massive stature and remarkable reach, Hodzic is bound to catch the eye of more prominent clubs in the months ahead, likely achieving greater success beyond his home country.
8. Lucas Bergström (6ft 8.7″ or 205cm)
At just twenty-one years old, Finnish goalkeeper Lucas Bergström is making waves at Premier League club Chelsea.
Having joined the English side from his hometown club TPS in 2018, Bergström has predominantly showcased his skills in Chelsea’s youth team. Nevertheless, he earned a spot as a substitute in their Champions League group game against Zenit Saint Petersburg three years later.
Bergström not only dons the Chelsea colors but has also represented his national team, Finland, up to the under-17 level. His prowess was acknowledged when he was elevated to the under-21 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification rounds.
Bergström is recognized as a talent brimming with immense potential, hinting at a promising future in the beautiful game
9. Yang Changpeng (6ft 8.5″ or 204cm)
Changpeng gained a measure of fame in the sport, especially in parts of Asia, thanks to his remarkable height.
Taking on the role of a forward for Chinese league teams like Chengdu Blades, Meizhou Kejia, and Henan Jianye, Changpeng stands tall at nearly 6ft 9″! Given the moniker “Chinese Peter Crouch,” he even ventured on a one-month trial with the English club Bolton Wanderers.
Despite scoring just twelve goals in 88 appearances, Changpeng never ascended to the pinnacle of the profession. Many speculate that his height and body type posed challenges for sustaining a prolonged successful career. Nevertheless, he can proudly claim his position among the tallest soccer players.
10. Jacob Samnik (6ft 8.5″ or 204cm)
Now a United States citizen and is playing soccer in Germany after stints in various European leagues.
The 22-year-old is one of the tallest soccer players in the world.
Samnik played for Romanian second-tier club FC Politehnica Lași and in the Danish League with Hobro IK before joining Dusseldorf, currently in Germany’s fifth tier.
His signing with FC Politehnica Lași went viral when, due to his huge frame, he couldn’t fit into the welcome photo frame with a much shorter staff member.
11. Øyvind Hoås (6ft 8.4″ or 204cm)
The Norwegian striker currently plays for Kristiansund in Norway. He used to play for Molde and even had a trial with Luton Town in 2007 before joining FK Fredrikstad the following season.
Hoås is among the tallest outfield soccer players, ranking in the top 10 tallest in Europe.
He’s also a former under-21 Norway international, with four appearances and one goal during that period.
Interestingly, Hoås scored the last goal at Fredrikstad’s old ground (Fredrikstad Stadion) and the first goal at their new stadium (Nye Fredrikstad Stadion).
12. Kjell Scherpen (6ft 8.3″ or 204cm)
Netherlands under-21 international Goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen plays for Dutch league side Vitesse and is currently on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Dutch professional goalkeeper, currently on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion to Austrian Football Bundesliga club Sturm Graz, also represents the Netherlands under-21 national team. Starting his youth journey at FC Emmen, he tragically lost his older brother Jorg at the age of 18 due to a sudden cardiac arrest that led to a coma.
Making his professional debut in August 2018, he quickly gained recognition for being among the tallest soccer players globally. Ajax signed him a year later on a four-year contract for €1.5 million.
The 2019-20 season saw him in action for Jong Ajax, where he made 21 appearances in the Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie.
This towering goalkeeper not only commands a strong presence in and around the goal but also surprises with his ability to play effectively from the back and showcase superb reflexes.
13. Lacina Traore (6ft 8″ or 203cm)
Ivorian footballer Lacina Traoré, who recently played for Varzim in Portugal, made a name for himself when Monaco signed him in 2014.
However, he’s most famous for his loan spell at Everton from AS Monaco, where he stood out as the tallest soccer player in the English Premier League at 6 feet 8 inches. They nicknamed him the “Gentle Giant” and “The Big Tree.”
Traoré isn’t just about his height; he brings speed and power to his game. He also had a stint with Sporting Gijón, making his La Liga debut against Alavés on February 5, 2017, adding another chapter to his football journey.
14. Mikkel Mena Qvist (6ft 7.9″ or 203cm)
Danish-Colombian defender Mikkel Mena Qvist currently plays as a center-back for Icelandic club Breiðablik and is one of the game’s tallest soccer players.
Qvist joined ASA Fodbold at Under-10 level and started life as a left winger before eventually moving to play at left back in the 4th tier of Danish soccer. He has also played for other Danish league sides including Lyseng, Horsens, KA, and HB Koge.
Now at Breiðablik, Qvist is gigantic and towers above most opponents at nearly 6ft 8″, which makes him reportedly the tallest professional defender in the world and one of the tallest soccer players ever.
Other Tallest Football Players
- Costel Pantilimon
- Peter Crouch
- Tonny Brogaard
- Jason Mooney
Who Is The Tallest Soccer Player in The World?
| No. | Player | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon Bloch Jorgensen | 6ft 11″ |
| 2 | Kristof van Hout | 6ft 10″ |
| 3 | Paul Millar | 6ft 10″ |
| 4 | Tomáš Holý | 6ft 9.2″ |
| 5 | Kyle Hudlin | 6ft 9″ |
| 6 | Vanja Iveša | 6ft 9″ |
| 7 | Dino Hodzic | 6ft 9″ |
| 8 | Lucas Bergström | 6ft 8.7″ |
| 9 | Yang Changpeng | 6ft 8.5″ |
| 10 | Jacob Samnik | 6ft 8.5″ |
| 11 | Øyvind Hoås | 6ft 8.4″ |
| 12 | Kjell Scherpen | 6ft 8.3″ |
| 13 | Lacina Traore | 6ft 8″ |
| 14 | Mikkel Mena Qvist | 6ft 7.9″ |
