The tallest football player of all time is unquestionably Kristof van Hout, a professional goalkeeper from Belgium who is 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres) tall.
He presently represents Lommel, a team in the Belgian pro league. Among the tallest soccer players of all time are the British attacker Paul Millar, who is 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres), and the Croatian goaltender Vanja Ivea, who is 6 feet 9 inches (2.05 metres) tall.
In some cases, if an attacker is blessed with high height, they can also greatly benefit from their long legs.
Here is the list of top 10 tallest soccer player in the world football.
10. Costel Pantilimon – 6’8″
Romanian goalie Costel Fane Pantilimon, who was born on 1 February 1987, is a professional football player. He is now unemployed.
How did the career playing of Costel start?
At Politehnica Timișoara, Pantilimon started his senior academic career. He joined Manchester City in 2011 on an initial loan and acted as Joe Hart’s backup.
For City in the 2013–14 League Cup, which they ultimately won, Pantilimon was the first choice.
After that, he remained in the Premier League with Sunderland for a another 1.5 seasons until moving on to Watford in 2016.
Pantilimon represented Romania internationally from 2008 to 2017, and he was chosen for the 2016 UEFA Euro.
How was the professional soccer career of Costel?
Being one of the tallest football player in the world football, Costel got frequent chances in the teams as being one of the tallest soccer player in the world he could easily get the Ariel balls.
The Romanian National Team goalkeeper had a very successful club career and is the 10th ranked tallest professional football player of all time.
9. Jason Mooney – 6’8.5″
Northern Irish goalkeeper Jason Bryan Mooney, born on February 26, 1989, plays semi-professional football. Jason is yet to make his debut for the Norwegian national team and at present plays at the Norwegian premier league club.
How did Jason Rise up the ranks?
Born in Newtownards, County Down, Mooney held numerous jobs while playing in Northern Ireland, including as a gardener, at a car wash, and at a farm.
He began playing football in the youth division with Ards, where he won the Youth League Cup in April 2008. Prior to that, on December 29, 2007, he began his first game for the first squad, a 2-1 Irish First Division road loss to Carrick Rangers.
Mooney played three times for Ards during the 2007–2008 campaign before joining Bangor, an IFA Premiership team that had just been promoted, in the summer of 2008.
Prior to joining Comber Recreation in the summer of 2009, he played for Ards Rangers, also in the Northern Amateur Football League.
Has Jason taken a Goalkeeping course?
During the summer of 2011, Mooney participated in a goalkeeping course in the south of England that was attended by scouts from all around England.
After a successful two-month trial, he agreed to a one-year deal with English League One team Wycombe Wanderers in August 2011.
After serving as a bartender at the club, he had already agreed to non-contractual requirements.
Mooney spent the 2011–12 season on loan to Oxford City of the Southern League Premier Division, where he contributed to the club’s 4–2 play-off triumph over AFC Totton to secure promotion into the Conference North.
He made 45 appearances for City before being released by Wycombe in May 2012 as a result of their League Two relegation.
Jason is the 9th ranked tallest soccer player in the world. Being one of the tallest soccer player he had a good chance of entering the premier league but could not make it there.
Whenever talking about tallest football players in the world, the list does not go without Jason Mooney getting a mention.
8. Yang Changpeng – 6′8.5”
Yang Changpeng, a Chinese football player, was born on May 1, 1989. Yang in his professional career and youth career has played at the chinese super league. Being one of the tallest soccer player in the world, Yang is a forward and not a goalkeeper unlike many other tallest soccer player or tallest football players in the world.
How did Yang rise up the ranks?
When Yang Changpeng was coaching his squad for pre-season in Hainan Province, Xiao Duyin, the then-young coach of Wuhan Optics Valley youth team, spotted him.
Yang Changpeng, who was then 15 years old, spent three years searching for an opportunity outside of his birthplace of Wuhan, first in Guangdong and then in Hainan, before securing a chance to return.
He was asked to a one-month trial in England by Bolton Wanderers in October 2006 when he was already 2 metres tall and had been called “China’s Peter Crouch” by the British media because of his enormous height.
Upon his return from Britain, he ultimately advanced to their senior team and made his league debut against Shaanxi CSCE on September 20, 2008.
How was the later career of Yang?
Yang Changpeng, a free agent after the 2011 season, explored his options and eventually joined the newly established Shenzhen Fengpeng.
With the help of his remarkable height, he eventually secured himself a starting spot at the senior level and supplied consistent tactical point as the target man.
However, Yang Chengpeng was incorrectly dismissed in the decisive semifinal of the postseason play-offs against Hubei China-Kyle after being taken down by an opponent.
This proved to be a turning point that cost Fengpeng the promotion.
Yang moved to fellow China League Two team Yinchuan Helanshan in March 2015. Yang joined Henan Jianye of the Super League in February 2017.
Yang is one of the tallest footballer around and one of the tallest soccer player in the world.
7. Tor Hogne Aaroy – 6′8.5″
Tor Hogne Aary, a former football forward from Norway, was born on March 20, 1977. Aary is among the tallest professional football players in the world, at 2.04 m (6 ft 8+12 in) tall. He is listed as the tallest soccer player in the EA Sports video game FIFA 15 at 6’8.
How was the career of Aaroy at Aalesund?
After a brief stint with the club in the fall of 1997, he joined second-tier team Aalesund at the beginning of the 2001 season.
He played 26 games in his first season back and scored 11 goals. He assisted Aalesund in its first-ever promotion to the top division of Norway the following season, finishing the campaign as their second-leading scorer with 17 goals.
Despite Aaroy’s six goals, the 2003 season was a catastrophe for the squad, which finished last and was demoted. He had a respectable season in 2004, which led to Aalesund’s promotion. Aalesund was demoted once more in 2005 after yet another subpar campaign.
Did Aaroy move to Japanese football league?
Aary relocated to Japan in 2011 to play for JEF United Chiba in the J2 League. He scored his first goal for Chiba on March 6, 2011 against Giravanz Kitakyushu.
His second league goal against FC Tokyo on April 24 was assisted by Mark Milligan, an Australian international.
He stated on October 3rd, 2012, that he will be leaving JEF United Chiba at the conclusion of the 2012 season. Takashi Kiyama, the manager of Chiba, is not abusing him.
In 2013, Aary made a trip back to Norway and Aalesund, where he spent his final two professional seasons.
Aaroy is the 7th ranked tallest soccer player or the tallest footballer in the football world.
6. Tonny Brogaard – 6’9″
Tonny Brogaard, formerly known as Tonny Nielsen, is a Danish football goalkeeper who last competed for Boldklubben Frem in the Danish First Division.
He was born on February 10, 1984. He is one of the tallest soccer player at 206 cm (6’9″) among active football career.
Tonny Brogaard is the 6th ranked tallest soccer player in the world.
How is the club appearances of Tonny going?
In May 2005, he was transferred to English team Doncaster Rovers from Danish amateur club Fremad Amager, where he was serving as a backup goalkeeper.
He committed to a two-year deal and sought to challenge fellow Dane Jan Budtz for the starting goalkeeper position.
The “Gentle Giant” of football, Nielsen was one of the tallest players in the league. At Doncaster, he did not receive a lot of playing time and participated in just one preseason game.
Due to injuries, he quickly fell to the club’s third choice among goalkeepers.
He did show up on the field during a game against premier league club Manchester City to speak with Jan Budtz following the horrific events that occurred when Doncaster’s starting goalie Andy Warrington shattered his right leg.
In October 2006, Nielsen finally received his freedom from his contract. He then relocated to Denmark to play sporadic football with Greve IF in the Danish 2nd Division.
Being one of the tallest soccer player or one of the tallest footballer Tonny can easily enter the premier league.
5. Lacina Traore – 6’9″
Lacina Emeghara Traoré, an Ivorian professional footballer born on May 20, 1990, most recently competed as a forward for the Portuguese team Varzim S.C.
His 2.03m frame, which ranks him among the tallest soccer player, has earned him the moniker “The Big Tree.”
Traore is the 5th ranked tallest soccer player in the world.
How did Traore rise up the ranks?
Traoré, an Ivorian who was raised in Abidjan, started his career with the ASEC Mimosas football team under Jean-Marc Guillou before switching to the Stade d’Abidjan in 2006.
He participated in sports in Abidjan up until January 2008, when he joined CFR Cluj in Romania.
With CFR, Traoré made his European debut, adding a second goal against Copenhagen in the opening round of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.
Later, he added another goal in a 3-2 home defeat to Sparta Prague.
How was his career at Monaco?
Traoré agreed to a four-and-a-half-year deal with Ligue 1 team Monaco on January 4. The cost is reportedly in the range of $14 million.
Traoré had prior connections to the team from the previous summer’s transfer window. Traoré was supposed to be acquired by Monaco with a subsequent loan to Anzhi.
After a dismal stint at Everton, Traoré was recalled prior to the new season and given an opportunity in the first team by new manager Leonardo Jardim.
A hamstring injury at the beginning of the season forced him to miss the first nine games, which was a blow for him. Manager Jardim spoke on Traoré, citing:
“He had injuries. He will come back. I believe him.”
Following his recovery, Traoré made his Monaco debut on October 17, 2014, in a 2-0 victory over Evian, replacing Anthony Martial in the 64th minute.
On November 9, Traoré scored his first goal for Monaco in a 1-1 draw with Saint-Étienne.
4. Tomas Holy – One of the tallest football players being 6’9″
Tomá Hol, an EFL League Two goalkeeper for Carlisle United, was born on December 10, 1991, in the Czech Republic. Tomas has been known around the world because of his exceptional height or for being one of the tallest soccer player in the world.
Tomas is the 4th ranked tallest soccer player in the world.
How was the career of Tomas?
Prior to joining Sparta Prague, Hol participated in the Hradec Králové youth system. Sparta Prague is where he began his professional career.
During the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, he played for Sparta Prague B, the club’s reserve squad. He spent time on loan at Vlaim, Viktoria Ikov, and Fastav Zln while playing for Sparta Prague.
Hol went to play for Gillingham in English football in January 2016.
Before moving on a free transfer to Ipswich Town in June 2019, he played for Gillingham for two and a half seasons, appearing in over 100 games.
He spent the most of the club’s first two seasons as their first-choice goalkeeper, but he was benched for the 2021–22 season and instead spent time on loan at Cambridge United and Port Vale.
In June 2022, he made a free transfer to Carlisle United.
At the U16, U17, and U18 levels, he has earned Czech Republic youth level caps.
What is the play style of Tomas?
With a height of 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 metres), Hol is one of the tallest soccer player in the world and a dominant goalkeeper with strong kicking and shot-stopping skills.
He naturally has an advantage due to his height while covering the goal, gathering crosses, and passing the ball far.
3. Vanja Ivesa – Tallest soccer players with height of 6’9″
Vanja Ivea, a former Croatian football goalkeeper who last played for NK Opatija, was born on July 21, 1977, in Pula.
Ivea, who stood over 2 metres tall and played football professionally for almost 26 years, represented many clubs in Croatia, Turkey, and Australia.
Ivea reached the record for the oldest player to have ever competed in the Croatian First Football League on February 17, 2018.
Vanja Ivesa, a goalkeeper from Croatia, is presently a member of NK Opatija.
On February 17, 2018, he broke the record for the oldest player to ever compete in the Croatian First Football League for any Croatian football club.
In addition, he also played for Turkey’s first-division team, Elazspor.
Ivesa made his professional debut with NK Istra in 1995. Since then, he has played for several clubs both inside and outside of Croatia, including Sydney United FC of the Australian division, NK Zminj of Croatia, Eskişehirspor of Turkey, and his home club NK Istra.
2. Paul Millar – 6’10”
Scottish footballer Paul Millar, who last competed for Deveronvale, is most known for his stint with Elgin City F.C. Millar is regarded as the second-tallest player in football to date, being six feet ten inches tall.
How did the career of Paul millar start?
After making an impression during a Royal Air Force match played at the club’s stadium in January 2010, Millar was signed by the manager at the time, Ross Jack.
The sole League Two playoff goal for Elgin City F.C. came from Millar, whose brilliantly struck volley defeated Albion Rovers (1-0) in the first leg at Borough Briggs.
Elgin City ultimately dropped the match 2-1 in the return leg.
Did Injuries play a negative part in the career of Paul millar?
In April 2013, Millar ruptured his ACL in the last seconds of a 4-2 victory for his club against Clyde F.C. at home after being engaged in a brutal challenge.
At the recent annual awards event, he was inducted into the Kirckaldy YM Hall of Fame.
Millar came to Formartine United in July 2014 after dealing with his cruciate knee ligament injury. He departed the club for another Scottish team Deveronvale precisely a year later, however he never fully healed.
1. Kristof Van Hout – 6’10.5″
Kristof Van Hout, a goalkeeper for Lommel and a professional football player from Belgium, was born on February 9, 1987. He is regarded as one of the tallest footballer in history at a height of 2.08 m.
How did the career of Kristof van hout start?
In 2004, Van Hout transferred from Verbroedering Geel to Willem II as a young player. He was acquired by Standard Liège on August 6, 2009, on a three-year contract from Kortrijk. He returned to Kortrijk on a one-year deal on June 11, 2011.
Van Hout and Lommel agreed to a one-season deal on May 23, 2022.
Has the height of Kristof van hout been an X-factor for him?
With a huge height of 6 feet 10 inches, the 35-year-old goalie is both the tallest goalkeeper and soccer player in the world. Before joining the PSV team, he started his career in the Netherlands with Willem II, the old club of Jaap Stam.
Later, he also participated in matches for K.V. Kortrijk of Belgium. On August 6, 2009, he then made a three-year contract transfer to Standard Liege. He also served as the goaltender for Delhi Dynamos FC during the 2014–15 Indian Super League season.
Since 2015, Kristof has been a team member of Westerlo of the Belgian Pro League. Due to his 6’10” height, this lanky goalkeeper doesn’t even need to jump to catch approaching corners.
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