Those South Americans are just have some kinda weird exceptional talent. They can be average in height, "trained" only on the streets, yets can produce talents that can beat European/Asian football academy players.

Its clear that they can do it without physical strength or years of football academy training, but the rest of can't.

Especially when it comes to Asian, we're quite frankly, below average in terms of football.

Size is just poor excuse. Messi is just 5'7, so we should think he can't make it in professional football?

I think football as a culture is just not ingrained in us. Yes, we like to watch it, but how many people actually is willing to play it day in day out, or send their kids to coaching academy, let them go padang and play, etc etc.

We also have other sports and entertainment that pulls away talents from football.

Similar to Brazil, football is weaved in to part of their lives and it's also a real chance at a better life. So the pool of players is bigger, the skills to shine is stronger and the top few are way better.

I think people don't realise the gap between a great player in local league to actually being professional. The best player I've played with and represented state level told me he can't even hack it professionally. And that dude is like 1000x better than the rest of us.

have to start with PE Class, focus on core training and stamina, systematically
not just Ok penggal 1 kita ajar bola tampar, everyone warmup, jog 1 round, stretching, ok start

some PE class even just do carefree, cikgu sit beside relax, murid just do whatever they want within the class hour.

badminton famous , imo, also because it's free from weather (hot sun / rain) , easy to start - just need few people and hitting ball with racket, no physical contact with opponent

Dont get me wrong here, it's not easy to play  badminton professionally, i'm talking about the body disadvantages since we were young and there's unlikely improvement designed along the way, except those gym-goer kind of "big muscle" - practicality u know i know

Even in basketball we could find some tall people but doubt they are capable to do intense sports as lack of fundamental

Similar to Brazil, football is weaved in to part of their lives and it's also a real chance at a better life. So the pool of players is bigger, the skills to shine is stronger and the top few are way better.

I think people don't realise the gap between a great player in local league to actually being professional. The best player I've played with and represented state level told me he can't even hack it professionally. And that dude is like 1000x better than the rest of us.

We used to have many good Chinese football players, but now it is down to zero.
Partly because Chinese parents value tuition over sports, and partly because SRJK(C ) do not have proper football fields.

have to start with PE Class, focus on core training and stamina, systematically
not just Ok penggal 1 kita ajar bola tampar, everyone warmup, jog 1 round, stretching, ok start

some PE class even just do carefree, cikgu sit beside relax, murid just do whatever they want within the class hour.

badminton famous , imo, also because it's free from weather (hot sun / rain) , easy to start - just need few people and hitting ball with racket, no physical contact with opponent

Dont get me wrong here, it's not easy to play  badminton professionally, i'm talking about the body disadvantages since we were young and there's unlikely improvement designed along the way, except those gym-goer kind of "big muscle" - practicality u know i know

Even in basketball we could find some tall people but doubt they are capable to do intense sports as lack of fundamental

What happened to home grown players? What’s with the 15 foreign players rule for leagues??

during my schooldays, the best time is actually to play against SJKC team, everyone can score one. If SJKT we always win, but they run a lot... tiring

expensive training expensive yo

not that u play at kampung suddenly can represent the state and country

i cannot believe vietnam sent so many vietmoi overseas but no top tier heritage players, indonesia sent so many maids overseas, now they are reaping the hardwork of their maids with so many heritage players

Yes, Messi is 1 in a billion — an outlier, not the standard.

The average height in Europe’s top 5 leagues is around 1.82m, and it’s not just about height — it’s strength, build, and power. Our taller players? Often skinny and lack core strength.
Football at the top level is a contact sport, and we’re starting at a physical disadvantage.

Even Japan — highly skilled and fast — still struggle physically against the elite teams. They’ve made up for it with insane work ethic, tactical discipline, and a footballing culture that pushes players from young.

So while skills and speed are important, physical strength can often be the difference when the margins are tight. And that’s something we still haven’t caught up on.

Uhh... Japan 2 Germany 1 last world cup

Takuma Asano i still remember outsprinted the german defence to score

Top their group beating Spain.

You sure or not they cannot cope physically?

Uhh... Japan 2 Germany 1 last world cup

Takuma Asano i still remember outsprinted the german defence to score

Top their group beating Spain.

You sure or not they cannot cope physically?

Yes, Messi is 1 in a billion — an outlier, not the standard.

The average height in Europe’s top 5 leagues is around 1.82m, and it’s not just about height — it’s strength, build, and power. Our taller players? Often skinny and lack core strength.
Football at the top level is a contact sport, and we’re starting at a physical disadvantage.

Even Japan — highly skilled and fast — still struggle physically against the elite teams. They’ve made up for it with insane work ethic, tactical discipline, and a footballing culture that pushes players from young.

So while skills and speed are important, physical strength can often be the difference when the margins are tight. And that’s something we still haven’t caught up on.

Japan tends to struggle against physically dominant teams over a full tournament. It’s not that smaller players can’t win — they absolutely can — but let’s be real, it’s a huge disadvantage.

You need exceptional speed, technique, and tactical discipline just to match up — and even then, one bad aerial duel, one strong shoulder challenge, and the momentum shifts.

Smaller size doesn’t mean no chance — it just means you’re fighting uphill every game.

IIRC Malaysia has been bad with teams that have heights, which is why in Asia our worst opponents are usually the Arabs.

Yeah let’s be real. We’ve failed that’s the short & easy answer.

We’ve failed to spot & develop talents from our own people because of years of piss poor planning & through my own experience, lack of meritocracy in team selection be it at junior or senior level. That’s the longer than short answer.

Japan tends to struggle against physically dominant teams over a full tournament. It’s not that smaller players can’t win — they absolutely can — but let’s be real, it’s a huge disadvantage.

You need exceptional speed, technique, and tactical discipline just to match up — and even then, one bad aerial duel, one strong shoulder challenge, and the momentum shifts.

Smaller size doesn’t mean no chance — it just means you’re fighting uphill every game.

Last time maybe now very strict with var you can easily get yellow card or penalty for playing rough.

The skills and tactical still matter the most. Nuno Mendes 1.80cm only still can pass through multiple defenders to score. Mbappe 1.78cm only.