Meet the World’s Shortest Man Who Made It to the Guinness World Records

Meet Afshin Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh from Iran, born on July 13, 2002. He’s not just an ordinary guy; he’s now officially the world’s shortest man, standing at a petite 65.24 cm (2 ft 1.6 in). Let’s look at his pics and know his story.

Afshin is about 7 cm (2.7 in) shorter than the guy who held the record before him.

Guinness World Records has confirmed Afshin as the fourth-shortest man ever recorded. They brought him to their Dubai office, where they measured him three times in 24 hours to make sure they got his height spot-on.

In Dubai, Afshin had a blast — he got fitted by a tailor, had a fresh haircut, and topped it all off by checking a major item off his bucket list: visiting the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Afshin speaks both Kurdish and Persian, using the Farsi dialect. Born weighing only 700 g (1.5 lb), Afshin has now grown to nearly 6.5 kg (14.3 lb).

Life in Northern Iran hasn’t been easy for him.

Due to his size, he couldn’t attend school and faced challenges with literacy. However, he recently achieved a small victory by learning to write his own name. Afshin’s father, Esmaeil Ghaderzadeh, shared that ongoing treatment and his son’s physical challenges led to him stopping school. Despite these obstacles, Afshin continues to face life with a positive spirit and always looks at the bright side.

On the flip side, Afshin may struggle to carry a smartphone due to its weight, but he’s surprisingly tech-savvy. Despite the difficulty, he shared, “Phones, in general, are heavy to use for a long time, yet I still manage.” Living in a modest house, Afshin’s family works hard, but there are challenges in covering his living expenses, medication, and treatment.

Unfortunately, Afshin’s short stature prevents him from pursuing a career like his father’s in construction.

In his village, there are no suitable job opportunities for someone with his unique circumstances. Most of Afshin’s days are filled with watching cartoons and, lately, scrolling through social media. With the help of a friend, he manages to connect with followers on his Instagram account.

Afshin’s love for football shines through as he cheers for Esteghlal Football Club in Iran. His football idols are none other than Guinness World Records titleholders Ali Daei from Iran and Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal.

Known for his kind and outgoing personality, Afshin is incredibly popular among the locals. Despite his positive outlook on life, Afshin shared his desire to live like everyone else, especially to have the freedom to own and drive a car. While he can walk on his own, Afshin often prefers to be accompanied by his parents when traveling around the village. This highlights the challenges he faces, even in the simplest daily activities.

Also, finding the right clothes is always a challenge for people with unique statures.

While tall people may face difficulties due to the need for custom-made attire, Afshin encounters a similar struggle. The only clothes that fit him are designed for toddlers, but as a 20-year-old man, he’s not a fan of the childlike styles. So, Afshin opts for custom-made suits.

Despite never having the opportunity to play sports, Afshin shares a love for dancing, much like the previous record-holder for the shortest man. Whenever there’s Iranian Kurdish music playing, he can’t resist showcasing his best dance moves.

Afshin’s big dream is to help his parents.

Afshin explains that being part of the Guinness World Records feels like a dream to him. He sometimes struggles to believe it, likening it to waking up the next day and realizing that the entire world now knows who he is.

The attention he receives from people makes Afshin feel special, despite his small stature. Despite his size, he harbors big dreams for the future, saying, “My dream is to be able to help my parents. This global recognition might help me achieve my dream.”

We have another article about a Guinness World Record holder, the hairiest girl in the world. She is now grown up, happily married, and confidently embraces her new style after shaving.