Elton Jose Xavier Gomes, known as Elton Arabia or simply Elton is the world's shortest professional footballer.

Right now, according to Transfermarkt, there is no professional footballer under the height of 5ft.

However, there is one player one inch above the 5ft mark - Elton Arabia (1.54 m).

Elton, who is five inches smaller than Lionel Messi, is a Brazilian footballer. In fact, according to statistics from the World Health Organization, Elton would be below the average height in an Under-14s match.

So how did he forge a professional career?

Well, he started his career at Corinthians making his professional debut in 2004.

At the age of 21, he signed for Romanian side Steaua Bucuresti. He scored on his debut and, despite only lasting one season, he made a huge impact.

So much so that, in a 2009 poll he was chosen by the Steaua Bucharest fans in the team's Best XI for the past ten years.

A move to Saudi Arabia followed with Al Nassr, who he enjoyed two successful seasons with. In fact, he was so loved by the fans that they were often seen wearing afro wigs similar to Elton's hairstyle.

Elton soon returned to Brazil with Fortaleza and Sport Recife but it was his spell at Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia that really saw him make a name for himself.

He was at Al-Fateh between 2011-2015 and scored 48 league goals in 121 matches. He helped the club to its first-ever league title and earned himself the nickname ‘Elton Arabia’.

If you're wondering how a player of such stature can actually be any good, there are plenty of YouTube videos of Elton in action. And what he lacks in height, he more than makes up in with talent. He's left-footed and incredibly quick and skilful with the ability to make defenders look silly.

His set-piece ability is also outrageously good.

There's a clip of him scoring a quite ridiculous 40-yard free-kick for Al-Fateh as well as brilliant highlights of a spell later in his career.

VIDEO: World's shortest professional player in action

He later went on to sign for fellow Saudi side, Al-Qadisiyah, where he enjoyed even more success.

“I’ve been in Arabia for nine years and I only have good things to say,” he told UOL Sport last year. “Life is quiet here; I have nothing to complain about; the Arabs have a lot of affection for me.”

Spells in Brazil and United Arab Emirates followed.

He was last seen playing for Al-Hamriyah in the UAE but, at the age of 36, is currently without a club.

Fair play to Elton. He overcame the odds against him to make a career for himself in professional football despite being vertically challenged.

He may well have made a big move to Europe if he had been just a bit taller...