Of course it does, at least in my opinion. Provides better speed and mobility. Football is a game made for all types of players, both short and tall. But there are positions in which different heights are better. For example, a center back or center forward needs to be taller in order to fight his opponent and because crosses are often required to be reached using their height (although you can find exceptions here too with center backs like Cannavaro or double Copa America winner Gary Medel and many false 9s who are used today because they bring better movement up front).

A number 10 player or a fullback is better to be short, it provides better utility in what he's required to do. That's why the best in these positions have been short, like Messi, Maradona, Iniesta, Andy Moller, Roberto Carlos, Djalma Santos, Zico, Garrincha.

And when they came to the Premier League and impacted with taller players, the shorter ones have pretty much been the more successful knes. Just look at Alexis sanchez, Hazard, David Silva, Modric, Kante probably considered the best of the bunch.

At international level, the players in countries with a lower height average have been more successful than players from countries with very tall people. You don't see Norway or Sweden or Fonland being very competitive in football, but at the other end, countries like Spain, Italy or Argentina have had success in this sport in the last 100 years. Suggesting that close control of the ball and speed are a little more important than brute force and height in football. Just the past decade, Spain has been dominating football, winning the World Cup in 2010 and 2 European championships against squads with much taller players.Spanish teams have also pretty much dominated the Champions League and the Europa League these past decade. And when Spanish teams collided with the taller English teams it pretty much always went their way (Atletico Madrid, which was not that big a powerhouse like Real or Barca back then, trashed Lampard's Chelsea 4-0 in the European Supercup a few years ago)

So I think Rafael would offer a competitive advantage. Maybe you would find youself struggling more at corners of the opposing team and he might be unable to prevent some headers going towards his own net, but overall, a short fullback who is fast and willing to work and fight (which I know Rafael is) is better overall by contributing more to the passing game and the final product.

And please, let me just say that your suggestions of Liechsteiner or Juanfran are not in the same league with the fullbacks I mentioned and who have been the best over the years. Juanfran is Sergi Barjuan or Angelo di Livio cathegory, not even that. Players who were extremely short, like Lizarazu and Lahm and many more. Zanetti was average tall and every other great fullback in history was short or average in height.

Edited by mattteo (10 Jul 2018 4.32pm)