6 small players who pack a big punch

Halfway through football's summer spectacle in Russia, it's evident that players don't need to tower over their opponents to make a positive impact.

That's because while shorter footballers aren't usually dominant in the air, they can benefit from a lower centre of gravity that affords them the technical ability to slalom through defenders while still keeping their balance and delivering perfectly weighted passes.

Here are six such stars who exemplify the credo that sometimes great things do come in small packages:

Xherdan Shaqiri, 5-foot-6

Switzerland's diminutive attacker had a match to remember Friday, capping a comeback against Serbia with a composed 90th-minute strike that lifted his country to second in the group with just one point needed in the final match against Costa Rica to assure progression. The lasting moment, though, may have been his shirtless celebration, which showed you probably don't want to get on Shaqiri's bad side.

Eden Hazard, 5-foot-8

Belgium's mini maestro, Eden Hazard, may stand just 5-foot-8 - which pales in comparison to his giant Red Devils teammates such as Romelu Lukaku (6-foot-3), Jan Vertonghen (6-foot-2), and Thibaut Courtois (6-foot-6) - but that doesn't hinder his incredible play on the pitch. Hazard has two goals and one assist so far in Russia, and he's a good bet for more of both with Belgium already through to the round of 16.

Lionel Messi, 5-foot-7

Argentina's golden man, Lionel Messi, hasn't had himself the most convincing start to the summer tournament. He's still in search of his first goal after having his penalty against Iceland saved and then failing to make much of an impact against Croatia. Needless to say, though, you should probably hesitate to bet against the Barcelona star, who's set for a do-or-die contest against Nigeria just two days after his 31st birthday. If there's anyone who can create magic out of absolutely nothing and propel Argentina into the next round, it's Messi.

Lucas Torreira, 5-foot-6

As was made obvious during his substitute appearances against Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Lucas Torreira is far and away Uruguay's shortest man on the pitch. But that doesn't stop him from bossing La Celeste's midfield, as he stops opponents' attacks in their tracks while also dictating tempo the other way. It's no surprise that the Sampdoria midfielder is attracting serious interest from Arsenal.

N'Golo Kante, 5-foot-6

Considering how crucial N'Golo Kante has been in midfield for Leicester City, Chelsea, and now France, you'd be forgiven if you believed he was larger than his listed height of 5-foot-6. Kante may not show up on the scoresheet for Les Bleus at all in Russia, but his chemistry in midfield with both Paul Pogba and the more attack-minded Antoine Griezmann ahead of them is arguably France's greatest strength and a massive factor in deciding just how far it can go.

Juan Quintero, 5-foot-6

Much like compatriot James Rodriguez did four years ago in Brazil, Colombia's other left-footed attacking midfielder, Juan Quintero, is in the midst of a stellar 2018 tournament. He was fantastic in his co-playmaker role against Poland, setting up Radamel Falcao for the second goal by dissecting the defence with a fantastic through-ball.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)