How tall is Lionel Messi? Here’s the answer
Lionel Messi is 5 feet 7 inches tall, or 170 cm. That’s the official figure listed by his clubs and the Argentina national team, and it’s been the same for most of his career. In a sport full of 6-foot center-backs and towering strikers, Messi is noticeably smaller than a lot of the players he’s spent two decades running past.
And that’s kind of the whole story, right? The smallest guy on the pitch ended up being one of the best footballers ever. Eight Ballon d’Or trophies, a World Cup, two MLS MVP awards and a highlight reel longer than most careers.
In this article we’ll look at Messi’s height in feet and centimeters, the growth hormone treatment that changed his life, why being shorter actually helps him play the way he does, plus his weight, age and how he compares with Ronaldo, Mbappé and other stars.
Lionel Messi quick facts
Here’s the cheat sheet. Figures are based on official listings and public information.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lionel Andrés Messi |
| Height | 5′7″ (170 cm) |
| Weight | About 159 lb (72 kg) |
| Date of birth | June 24, 1987 |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Birthplace | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Position | Forward / attacking midfielder |
| Current club | Inter Miami CF (MLS), contract through 2028 |
| Nickname | La Pulga (The Flea) |
Lionel Messi’s height in feet and centimeters
170 cm divided by 2.54 gives you 66.9 inches. Divide that by 12 and you get 5 feet 6.9 inches, which everyone rounds to 5′7″. In meters, that’s 1.70 m.
For comparison, the average adult man in Argentina is around 174 cm, and in the US it’s about 175 cm, or 5′9″. So Messi is a few centimeters below the average guy on the street. Among professional footballers, the gap is bigger. The average height of players at recent World Cups sits at roughly 180-182 cm, so Messi gives away about 10 cm to the typical opponent.
Want to convert any other height? Our Height Converter does it instantly.
Why is Messi nicknamed La Pulga?
His nickname, La Pulga, means “The Flea” in Spanish. He got it as a kid in Rosario because he was tiny, fast and impossible to catch. Older and bigger boys would try to stop him and he’d just slip past, change direction and keep going. The name stuck, and it’s still used by fans and commentators today.
The growth hormone story
This is one of the most famous stories in football, and it’s directly about his height. When Messi was around 10 years old, doctors in Argentina diagnosed him with a growth hormone deficiency. Without treatment, he likely would have ended up much shorter than he is today.
The treatment meant daily hormone injections, and it was expensive. Reports put the cost at roughly $900-1,000 a month at the time, which was a lot for a working-class family in Rosario. His local club, Newell’s Old Boys, and River Plate were interested in him, but neither committed to paying for the full treatment.
Then FC Barcelona stepped in. After a trial in 2000, the club offered to cover his medical costs if the family moved to Spain. The famous first agreement was reportedly written on a paper napkin by Barcelona director Carles Rexach. Messi moved to Barcelona at 13, joined the La Masia academy and finished his treatment there.
Here’s how that part of his life played out:
- Around 1997-1998: diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency in Rosario.
- Late 1990s: starts nightly injections, which he often gave himself in his legs.
- 2000: trial with FC Barcelona and the legendary napkin agreement.
- 2001: moves to Spain with his family and joins La Masia.
- Early 2000s: completes his treatment and reaches his adult height of about 170 cm.
Without that decision by Barcelona, football history would probably look very different.
Why Messi’s height is actually an advantage
It’s easy to assume that being shorter is a disadvantage in football. For a goalkeeper or a center-back, maybe. For a player like Messi, it’s the opposite. His game is built around close control, quick turns and tiny touches at full speed, and his size makes all of that easier.
Here’s why:
- A low center of gravity helps him keep his balance when defenders bump into him.
- Shorter legs mean quicker steps, so he can touch the ball more often while dribbling.
- He can change direction faster than taller players, which makes him brutal in one-on-ones.
- His acceleration over the first few meters is elite, and that’s where most duels are won.
He’s not alone, either. Diego Maradona was about 5′5″ (165 cm), Andrés Iniesta about 5′7″ (171 cm) and Xavi about 5′7″ (170 cm). Some of the best playmakers in history were on the shorter side.
Where height does hurt him is in the air. Messi rarely scores headers, although he’s had a few memorable ones, including a goal against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final. Opponents know he won’t win many aerial duels, but by then he’s usually already past them on the ground.
Messi vs Ronaldo and other footballers: height comparison
Everyone asks this one, so here it is. Cristiano Ronaldo is about 6′2″ (187 cm), which makes him 17 cm, or almost 7 inches, taller than Messi. Here’s how Messi stacks up against other big names.
| Player | Height | Difference vs Messi |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 5′7″ (170 cm) | – |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 6′2″ (187 cm) | 17 cm taller |
| Erling Haaland | 6′4″ (194 cm) | 24 cm taller |
| Kylian Mbappé | 5′10″ (178 cm) | 8 cm taller |
| Lamine Yamal | 5′11″ (180 cm) | About 10 cm taller |
| Neymar | 5′9″ (175 cm) | 5 cm taller |
| Andrés Iniesta | 5′7″ (171 cm) | About the same |
| Diego Maradona | 5′5″ (165 cm) | 5 cm shorter |
Curious which athletes share your height? Try our Height Twins tool and filter by athletes.
Lionel Messi’s weight and fitness
Messi weighs around 159 lb, or 72 kg. That’s on the solid side for his height. His build is compact and muscular, especially in the legs, which helps with acceleration and holding off defenders.
For a man of 170 cm, the BMI-based healthy range is about 118-159 lb (53-72 kg), so he’s right at the top of it. That’s normal for athletes, because muscle weighs more than fat, and BMI doesn’t tell the difference. You can try any height in our Height & Weight Calculator.
Around the mid-2010s, Messi worked with Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser and cleaned up his diet. Less sugar, less processed food, more vegetables, fish, whole grains and olive oil. He has said the changes helped him with fitness and recovery, and many people link them to how well he’s kept playing into his late 30s.
Lionel Messi’s age and career timeline
Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. That makes him 39 years old. He’s the third of four children and started playing at the local club Grandoli before joining Newell’s Old Boys.
Here’s the short version of an extremely long list of achievements:
- 2004: makes his first-team debut for FC Barcelona at 17.
- 2009: wins his first Ballon d’Or and the treble with Barcelona.
- 2012: scores 91 goals in a calendar year, a world record.
- 2021: leaves Barcelona after 17 seasons as the club’s all-time top scorer and joins Paris Saint-Germain. Wins the Copa América with Argentina.
- 2022: leads Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar and wins the Golden Ball.
- 2023: joins Inter Miami and wins his eighth Ballon d’Or, a record.
- 2024: wins another Copa América and is named MLS MVP.
- 2025: wins MLS MVP again, the first player ever to do it in back-to-back seasons, and leads Inter Miami to its first MLS Cup. Signs a contract extension through 2028.
- 2026: plays a record sixth World Cup, scores eight goals and wins the Silver Ball as Argentina reach the final, losing 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Not bad for a kid who needed injections just to grow.
FAQ
How tall is Lionel Messi in cm?
Lionel Messi is 170 cm tall, which is about 5 feet 7 inches.
Is Messi shorter than Ronaldo?
Yes. Cristiano Ronaldo is about 187 cm, so he’s roughly 17 cm, or almost 7 inches, taller than Messi.
Did Messi take growth hormones?
Yes. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child, and FC Barcelona paid for his treatment after he joined the club at 13.
How much does Messi weigh?
He weighs about 159 lb (72 kg).
How old is Lionel Messi?
He was born on June 24, 1987, so he is 39 years old.
Why is Messi called La Pulga?
It means “The Flea” in Spanish. He got the nickname as a child because he was small, quick and very hard to catch.
What team does Messi play for now?
He plays for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, with a contract that runs through the 2028 season.
The bottom line
Lionel Messi stands 5′7″, or 170 cm, a little below average for a man and well below average for a professional footballer. A childhood growth hormone deficiency nearly ended his dream before it started, until Barcelona paid for his treatment. Today his compact build is a big part of what makes him special: the balance, the quick feet and the way he glides past bigger defenders.
Want to see how you compare with him? Find your celebrity height twins or browse more athlete heights on our site.
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