While football is often associated with agile, shorter players, the sport has produced some remarkably tall athletes. These towering footballers used their height to dominate in the air, command their defence, or become target men up front.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest football player ever is Kristof Van Hout at 6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest football players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest Football Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristof Van Hout | 6 ft 10 in (208 cm) | Belgium |
| 2 | Yang Changpeng | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | China |
| 3 | Tor Hogne Aaroy | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) | Norway |
| 4 | Costel Pantilimon | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | Romania |
| 5 | Lacina Traore | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) | Ivory Coast |
| 6 | Peter Crouch | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | England |
| 7 | Jan Koller | 6 ft 7 in (202 cm) | Czech Republic |
| 8 | Nikola Zigic | 6 ft 7 in (202 cm) | Serbia |
| 9 | Stefan Maierhofer | 6 ft 7 in (202 cm) | Austria |
| 10 | Vanja Milinkovic-Savic | 6 ft 6 in (199 cm) | Serbia |
1. Kristof Van Hout — 6 ft 10 in (208 cm)
Country: Belgium
Kristof Van Hout is the tallest professional footballer in recorded history. The Belgian goalkeeper played for several clubs in Belgium and the Netherlands, including Westerlo and Willem II. His towering frame covered virtually the entire goal.
2. Yang Changpeng — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: China
Yang Changpeng is a Chinese footballer who gained attention for his extraordinary height. The striker played in the Chinese lower divisions and became a viral sensation. His height made him a formidable aerial threat despite limited top-level experience.
3. Tor Hogne Aaroy — 6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
Country: Norway
Tor Hogne Aaroy was a Norwegian striker who played in the Tippeligaen. Standing at 6 ft 9 in, he used his height to win aerial duels and score headed goals. Aaroy played most of his career for Sogndal and Aalesund in Norway.
4. Costel Pantilimon — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: Romania
Costel Pantilimon is a Romanian goalkeeper who played for Manchester City, Sunderland, and Watford in the Premier League. He won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2013-14 as a backup to Joe Hart. Pantilimon also represented Romania at international level.
5. Lacina Traore — 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Country: Ivory Coast
Lacina Traore is an Ivorian striker who played for clubs across Europe including Monaco, Everton, and CSKA Moscow. He represented the Ivory Coast at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Traore was known for his ability to hold up the ball and score with his head.
6. Peter Crouch — 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Country: England
Peter Crouch is one of the most famous tall footballers in history. He scored 108 Premier League goals for clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham, and Stoke City. Crouch earned 42 caps for England and scored 22 international goals, including a famous hat-trick against Jamaica.
7. Jan Koller — 6 ft 7 in (202 cm)
Country: Czech Republic
Jan Koller was a prolific Czech striker who played for Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund, and AS Monaco. He scored 55 goals in 91 appearances for the Czech Republic, making him one of their all-time top scorers. Koller also served as an emergency goalkeeper on several occasions.
8. Nikola Zigic — 6 ft 7 in (202 cm)
Country: Serbia
Nikola Zigic was a Serbian striker who played in Spain for Racing Santander and Valencia before moving to Birmingham City in the Premier League. He scored the opening goal in Birmingham’s famous 2011 League Cup final victory over Arsenal. Zigic also represented Serbia at the 2010 World Cup.
9. Stefan Maierhofer — 6 ft 7 in (202 cm)
Country: Austria
Stefan Maierhofer is an Austrian striker who played for numerous clubs across Europe including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rapid Wien. His towering height made him a classic target man. Maierhofer represented Austria at international level.
10. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic — 6 ft 6 in (199 cm)
Country: Serbia
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is a Serbian goalkeeper who plays for Torino in Serie A. He is the brother of midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Vanja has represented Serbia at international level and uses his considerable height to command his penalty area.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these football giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
Height in football can be a double-edged sword — it provides aerial dominance but can limit agility. These players proved that with the right skills, tall footballers can thrive at the highest levels of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tallest footballer ever?
Kristof Van Hout of Belgium is widely considered the tallest professional footballer at 6 ft 10 in (208 cm).
Does height help in football?
Height is an advantage for goalkeepers and target strikers who compete for aerial balls, but shorter players often have better agility and ball control.
What is the average height of a professional footballer?
The average height of a professional male footballer is approximately 5 ft 11 in (181 cm).