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Top Short Male Athletes

‘Taller the athlete, better the performance’ is a common misconception that has been looming over in the world of sports for quite some time now. While it is true to an extent that tall athletes have an edge over their shorter counterparts, height alone does not decide the outcome. Time and again, many short athletes have proven their critics wrong by outperforming their taller counterparts. Take a look at the list below to know more about these short athletes.

1. Bruce Lee

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Also Known As: Lee Jun-fan
Birthday: 27 November 1940
Born In: San Francisco, California, United States
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died On: 20 July 1973
Height: 5′8″
Famous As: Actor, Martial Artist

Regarded by many as the most influential martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee continues to influence modern combat sports, such as mixed martial arts, boxing, judo, and karate. This man of great stature stood at a height of 1.72 m.


2. Lionel Messi

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Also Known As: Lionel Andrés Messi, Leo Messi
Birthday: 24 June 1987
Born In: Rosario, Argentina
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5′7″
Famous As: Football Player

Lionel Messi is not tall for a footballer; he stands at a height of 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in). Despite his height, he went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.


3. Pele

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Also Known As: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele
Birthday: 23 October 1940
Born In: Tres Coracoes, Brazil
Sun Sign: Libra
Famous As: Football player

This Brazilian football legend stands at a height of 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in). Despite his comparatively short stature, Pelé went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.


4. Muggsy Bogues

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Birthday: 09 January 1965
Born In: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5′3″
Famous As: Basketball player

Standing at a height of 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), Muggsy Bogues is the shortest player ever to take part in the NBA as a player. Muggsy's achievements have encouraged many short players to pursue their basketball dreams.


5. Diego Maradona

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Also Known As: Diego Armando Maradona
Birthday: 30 October 1960
Born In: Lanús, Argentina
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died On: 25 November 2020
Height: 5′5″
Famous As: Football Player

Diego Maradona's small stature (1.65 m or 5 ft 5 in) helped him maneuver better than his taller counterparts. Many believe that his short stature helped him become one of the greatest footballers ever.