Height comparison

Lionel Messi vs Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal is taller than Lionel Messi by 46 cm (1′ 6″).

Lionel MessiFootballer: 5′ 7″170 cm
Shaquille O'NealBasketball player: 7′ 1″216 cm

Two of the most famous athletes alive, at opposite ends of the range.

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Lionel Messi (5′ 7″) and Shaquille O'Neal (7′ 1″), drawn to scale on a shared ground line.

Lionel Messi: 5′ 7″; 170 cm · 1.7 m
Shaquille O'Neal: 7′ 1″; 216 cm · 2.16 m
Difference: 1′ 6″; 46 cm
Taller: O'Neal; Shaquille O'Neal

The difference in full

Centimetres

46 cm

Feet & inches

1′ 6″

Relative

27.1%

taller than Lionel Messi

How they compare with everyone else

Measured against US adults aged 20 and over, from the CDC's NHANES survey.

Lionel Messi

24th percentile

Taller than about 24% of American men.

Shaquille O'Neal

>99th percentile

Taller than about 100% of American men.

Explore these heights

What 5'7" looks likeLionel Messi's height5'7"170.2 cm

Questions

Who is taller, Lionel Messi or Shaquille O'Neal?

Shaquille O'Neal. Shaquille O'Neal is 7′ 1″ (216 cm) and Lionel Messi is 5′ 7″ (170 cm), a difference of 46 cm.

What is the height difference between Lionel Messi and Shaquille O'Neal?

46 cm, which is 1′ 6″ in imperial units.

How tall is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is 5′ 7″ (170 cm, 1.7 m). Source: press and agency figures.

How tall is Shaquille O'Neal?

Shaquille O'Neal is 7′ 1″ (216 cm, 2.16 m). Source: press and agency figures.

See how you measure up

The chart opens with Lionel Messi and Shaquille O'Neal already lined up. Add your own height to stand between them, or bring in anyone else — every difference is calculated for you.

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press and agency figures · press and agency figures. Reported heights vary between sources.How we source and calculate this → Compare any two heights →