Being tall is advantageous in a wide variety of sports—and soccer is no exception. One aspect of soccer where height plays a crucial role is goalkeeping. With the average height of a Premier League goalkeeper being 1.9 meters (6 ft 3 in), there is no question that you need to tower over the average player in order to compete in the big leagues as a goalkeeper.

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, Iker Casilla, Viktor Valdez, and David Ospina barely reach six feet (1.82 meters) but have still been successful in the big leagues. These goalkeepers were able to make up for their height disadvantage by improving their reaction time, positioning, jumping ability, and decision making. It goes to show that with a strong work ethic, goalkeepers who are only a couple of inches below the average height can be successful.

However, what does a prospective goalkeeper do if he's significantly shorter than average? This time, it requires more than just a strong work ethic. It requires an absolutely unparalleled passion and dedication toward the game. Let's take a look at the 12 shortest goalkeepers ever in professional footballer history.