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The 2026 World Cup has been further proof that soccer is a sport for anybody.
The 5-foot-7 Lionel Messi, already one of the all-time greats, has continued putting on a show by leading Argentina on another deep run as the defending champion. On the other end of that spectrum, however, are some more physically imposing stars — such as Norway's Erling Haaland.
Haaland doesn't just have the speed and skillset needed to score seven World Cup goals in four matches. His sheer strength and height also make him difficult to stop, let alone the fact that he stands out on the pitch.
Here's what to know about Haaland's physical attributes and how they even compare to NFL players.
2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets
How big is Erling Haaland?
Haaland is a bit of an anomaly among strikers, which is part of what makes him such a star.
While most strikers his size are slower, Haaland is typically one of the fastest players on a pitch.
Erling Haaland height
Haaland has been listed at both 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5.
Erling Haaland weight
Haaland is listed by Manchester City at 194 pounds.
Even with his immense height and weight for a soccer player, Haaland is reportedly able to hit sprinting speeds of up to 36.7 kilometers per hour — making him one of the fastest stars out there on top of his strength.
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Erling Haaland size photos
When standing next to shorter players, Haaland's frame makes him stand out even more.
🚨 THE 1.75m GIANT! ⚔️ HOW ARDA GÜLER "CONTROLLED" HAALAND!
Height is just a number! The image of Arda Güler marking Erling Haaland went viral, but the logic behind it is terrifyingly smart. Arbeloa refused to waste his elite headers (Rüdiger/Tchouaméni) on a player...
1/2 pic.twitter.com/d8CfpN7AzA— Naweh’s Media (@NawehsMedia) March 12, 2026
During the 2026 World Cup, fans have also noted the fear that must overcome opponents when they see a player of Haaland's size moving directly at them.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by How Everything Works (@howeverythingworks)
Famous streamer IShowSpeed also reacted to seeing Haaland in person.
Erling Haaland size compared to NFL players
At 6-foot-5, Haaland is taller than the average NFL player. Based on average heights, he stands as tall as most NFL offensive linemen, though with far less weight — almost all NFL players weigh more than Haaland's 194 pounds due to the nature of the sport, needing more pure strength. That makes him align physically with a taller wide receiver.
One somewhat comparable physical build to Haaland is 49ers veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, who has also been listed at 6-foot-5 throughout his career. While Evans is heavier at 231 pounds, he's also agile as one of the premiere offensive weapons around the league.
Panthers rookie receiver Chris Brazzell II also comes into the NFL with a similar build to Haaland's at 6-4 around 200 pounds.
Here’s a little Chris Brazzell pic.twitter.com/LzJAz2UEih— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) March 19, 2024
In terms of both height and weight, more NFL wide receivers who come close to Haaland's measurements are the Jets Tim Patrick (6-5, 210 pounds), the Cowboys' Marques Valdez-Scantling (6-4, 206 pounds), the Lions' Isaac TeSlaa (6-4, 214 pounds), the Falcons' Drake London (6-4, 215 pounds) and the Saints' Devaughn Vele (6-5, 210 pounds).
Tallest players in 2026 World Cup
While Haaland may be the tallest star goal-scorer at the 2026 World Cup, he was not the tallest overall player to make a roster.
That honor went to Austria goalkeeper Florian Wiegel — who, in fact, became the tallest player to ever be named to a World Cup roster at 6-foot-9, per FIFA.
Here's a look at the tallest rostered players at the 2026 World Cup:
Daniel Mader
Daniel Mader is a Content Producer for The Sporting News. He joined SN in 2024 as an editorial intern following graduation from Penn State University. He has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. Daniel grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.
Source: Sporting News
