The older generation in Hungary have a theory — if you are “blessed” with small feet, there’s a far greater chance of succeeding as a footballer.
It dates back to the days of the legendary Ferenc Puskas who, in 84 games for Hungary, scored 83 goals as well as hundreds more at club level — largely for Real Madrid where he was a three-times European Cup winner.
Puskas, a 5ft 7ins striker, had a low centre of gravity and, like Maradona, powerful thighs… and small feet. He struck the ball dead centre and needed little back-lift to generate significant power.
Puskas remains an iconic figure in his home country. Hungary’s national stadium is named after him and, still to this day, coaches in his homeland look at his profile (including his small feet) when trying to shape stars of the future.
Puskas’ physical attributes helped make him the player he was (Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Which brings us on to Hungary’s new golden boy: Dominik Szoboszlai.
Standing at 6ft 1ins, Liverpool’s marquee summer signing, who arrived from RB Leipzig in a £60million deal, is far from the short, squat figure of Puskas. He does, however, have one similarity: his feet are a UK size 7 (9 in the U.S.) and they, along with his long legs, enable him to hit through the ball cleanly, according to those who have worked alongside him in the past.
As a youngster Szoboszlai wore boots that were slightly too small for him. This, according to a well-placed source who asked to remain anonymous to protect his relationship with the player, was on the recommendation of his father, the former footballer, Zsolt, who nurtured him through his teenage years at his own academy Fonix Gold with a range of other wacky training drills including holding golf balls in his hands and running through plastic bottles.
The belief was that, by wearing smaller boots, his feet would stop growing.
Then, coupled with the right training, repetition, and a laser-focus on technique, Szoboszlai, if armed with all the right powers, would transform into a superstar kicker.
“It’s a tip, a football hack, shall we say,” says the source. “Because if you have big feet, you can’t shoot the ball perfectly unless you are a player like Ibrahimovic.
“To shoot the ball properly, you have to have long legs and smaller feet, and that’s why Dominik’s father was strict with him when he was younger. Just look at him now.”
Szoboszlai has hit the ground running at Liverpool and was the stand-out performer in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, playing a part in two of the hosts’ three goals.
His ball-carrying ability and tight control were clear to see, although he was fortunate to win the penalty that resulted in Mo Salah scoring the second goal.
With the most completed passes (65) and most dribbles (three) for Liverpool at Anfield, he won plenty of plaudits. Manager Jurgen Klopp praised his home debut but insisted “he was good away (at Chelsea), also”.
Now Liverpool are waiting to see Szoboszlai’s ball-striking skills and how his numbers compare to last season, when the 22-year-old scored six goals and set up eight more in the Bundesliga.
The power that he generates in his shots is fierce – and is one of the reasons Liverpool signed him as they look for a return to the Champions League next season.
Szoboszlai gets on the scoresheet for RB Leipzig last season (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
There’s no doubting Szoboszlai’s talent, just like there’s no doubting the belief amongst Hungarians that his anatomy has played a key role in his success.
And there are other examples they can point to, most famously Lionel Messi, whose size eight feet (a US 9) are often cited as a reason for his ability to skip past defences and change direction quickly and easily.
Yet the science that small feet is far from watertight. Multiple people within the industry who were contacted for this article say there is no exact science to suggest that small feet enhance performance in football.
A variety of coaches also point towards players with feet of a medium or big size as proof that success can vary.
Rene Meulensteen was the first-team coach at Manchester United between 2007 and 2013, when he worked with some of the best attackers in the world.
“What impact does the size of your feet have on striking the ball? Not that much, because it all comes down to your technique, your body position and how you use your arms and your core,” he says.
“(Cristiano) Ronaldo is over 6ft but is a size 9 and he wasn’t a bad player. Ibrahimovic, too. They’re both great goalscorers so I think there’s very little significance in terms of how players connect with the ball and strike it in relation to the size of their feet.”
Scott Chickelday, a striker coach who works with a number of international players, agrees. “Technique is the most important thing, not the size of your feet. If you get the technique right then your shots will generate more power.
“You need to make sure you hit the right part of the ball to generate the power, then work on the follow through with the body coming through the ball.
“Look at Kevin de Bruyne, he generates outrageous power in shots, and he’s not the biggest, hasn’t got tree-trunk legs but what he has got is unbelievable technique.
Kevin de Bruyne’s technique makes him a powerful striker of the ball (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“Every shot he takes goes straight through the middle of the ball and then look at his follow-through, one leg comes through the ball, then both feet off the floor. He’s the best striker of the ball in world football.”
For Shayne Murphy, the Director of SDM Performance, who works with the Scotland national team and also the City Football Group, anatomy is one of many factors that helps determine how successful a striker can be.
“The mechanics of ball-striking are complex, but three key factors greatly influence shot power,” he says. “First, the range of motion in the ankle of the supporting leg plays a vital role, as limited ankle mobility can impede the ability to achieve optimal positions for generating force.
“Second, hip motion in the frontal plane (side to side) of the supporting leg is crucial and lastly, both leg strength and power, in the kicking leg as well as the supporting leg, are essential. All of these factors can be trained and improved upon.
“It is important to note that technique is also a significant aspect, but without adequate range, stability, and power in the body, technique may be limited.”
So what about the idea of wearing smaller boots like Szoboszlai did as a young man? Generally, it’s not advised for youngsters (unless, of course, you are born in Hungary).
“Players who choose this strategy must remain diligent in caring for their feet outside of the boots to avoid potential discomfort or injury,” Murphy says.
It’s no secret that many players prefer a tighter fit on their boots, however. Chickelday says all the attackers he works with like boots that have no movement whatsoever.
“They wear half a size too small, but have to wear boots around the house to get used to them,” he says. “The tight fit is preferred.”
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Murphy’s take is a little more nuanced.
“When isolating the act of striking the ball, particularly with force, one could argue that a stable and locked foot is essential, which a snug boot could facilitate,” he says.
“However, it is crucial to consider that footballers have multifaceted requirements, including running and changing direction, which necessitate some degree of foot flexibility that a tight or smaller boot might hinder.
“Ultimately, players must invest time in finding boots that serve the full purposes of their sport and ensure proper fit. As someone passionate about foot function, I emphasise that training and maintaining the functionality of key foot structures—such as the big toe, midfoot, and subtalar joint—are integral to a player’s success.”
So what might have worked for Szoboszlai in the past when he was learning his skills with his father doesn’t necessarily work for others.
It’s not a one-size fits all formula, even if the man himself says his height and small feet help give the ball a “special trajectory”.
What’s certain, however, is that regardless of feet size, Liverpool have a multi-skilled player in their side. A player who had the power to do even more over the weekend, Klopp admitted. For opponents, that’s a scary thought.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Samuel Richardson)
