Unlike many other professional sports such as Basketball, in which the height of the players enable a distinct advantage, soccer welcomes all manner of shapes and sizes depending on different in game strategies. Short and speedy on field players undeniably remain the most effective in the modern game, however player’s that are gifted in the height department or in hot demand if indeed set pieces become the main weapon of a side. Shorter players usually have more agility and are able to dribble with the ball better but the tallest soccer players have a definite advantage in aerial duels and are stronger physique wise.
With that in mind, here’s the top 10 tallest players currently playing their game in the sport today
.10: KJELL PETTER OPHEIM
Standing at 2.03 M (6 FT 8 IN), one of many goalkeepers to be to be mentioned in this list, Kjell Petter Opheim is a 33 year old goalkeeper who plays for the 3rd divison Norwegian League with Stryn Soccer F.C.
Previously, he has also feature for several teams like Oslo East, Manglerud Star, Lyn and Moss.
Good luck trying to chip this keeper!
.9: EVEN IVERSON
Imagine this Norwegian marking you during a match! Even Iverson makes the list standing tall at 2.03 M (6 FT 8 IN).This center back has played for Norwegian Champions Bode Glimt, also featuring previously for Oslo East and Flakstad IL. Iverson is believed to have now retired from professional football.
.8: OYVIND HOAS
You must be thinking “What do they feed these guys in Norway?” as another Norwegian player features in this list. With a height of 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) he serves as a natural target-man as he towers most defenders and any defender would find self at a disadvantage when competing aerially or physically against Oyvind.
Oyvind has played for Norway’s under-21 international team and the 31 year old has played for Molde, Fedrikstad, Sarpsborg, Honefoss, and currently plays at Kristiansund club level.
.7: COSTEL PANTILIMON
This Romanian national plays as goalkeeper for Romania’s national team and Watford in the English Premier League. Standing at 2.03 M (6 FT 8 IN), he is the tallest player in the premier league and one player whose name might ring a bell in this list. Having played as the understudy for Joe Hart at Manchester City (where he won 3 titles including the Premier League), he made the move to Sunderland in the search for first team football before eventually making the move to the Hornet’s.
.6: LACINA TRAORE
The Ivorian international is nicknamed the “The Big Tree” as Traore stands big at 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in). He is a striker contracted to Monaco and currently playing on loan for Sporting Gijon. Having played previously for Cluj in Romania, Kuban Krasnodar and Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, Traore eventually moved to Monaco for a deal worth $14 million. He has also served loan spells at Everton and CSKA Moscow. Traore has featured for his national side appearing for the Ivory Coast’s under 23-side and their senior team during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
.5: TOR HOGNE AAROY
Tor Hogne is the 4th Norwegian to make the list of tallest players in the world and yes, he is the last Norwegian to be mentioned in this list also. The tall forward standing at 2.04 m (6 ft 8 1/2 in) has had a long career starting from his first club Rosenborg (1999-2000), then moving to Aalesund spending nearly a decade (2001-2010), then a move to Japan to play for JEF United Chiba (2011-2012) before eventually moving back to Aalesund for a second spell (2013-2014) following that he announced his retirement from the game.
.4: YANG CHANGPENG
Yang Changpeng is a forward, who was famously scouted by Bolton Wanderers as he gained the nickname “Chinese Peter Crouch” due to his frame of 2.05 m (6 ft 8 1/2 in) by the English media. He was given a one month trial but didn’t do well enough to impress or earn a contract from Sam Allardyce’s squad. He returned to his homeland and played for several clubs like Wuhan Guanggu, Chengdu Blades, Shenzhen Fengpeng, Meizhou Kejia, Yinchaun Healanshen and now plays for Henan Jianye.
.3: VANJA IVESA
This Croation international stands 2.05m (6 ft 9 in) tall. The 39 year old shot stopper has played for several teams throughout his career like Istra, Rijeka, Novalja, Sydney United, Zminj, Pula, Slaven Belupo, Eskisehirspor, Elazigspor, Opatija and now currently plays for Istra 1961.
.2: PAUL MILLAR
Paul Millar is widely recognized as the tallest outfield player in the world, this Scottish national’s height of 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) earns him second place on our list. The forward has played for RAF Lossiemouth, Elgin City, Formantine United and Deveronale.
.1: KRISTOF VAN HOUT
Yes! Our number one on the list is Kristof Van Hout – ahead of the bunch of tallest soccer players. This goalkeeper is a giant, standing at 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in). This Belgian International has played for Willem II, Kortrijk, Standard Leige, Genk, Delhi Dynamos, and currently plays for Westerlo.