Yes, guys around Messi's size are normal in the European leagues and the MLS. Sure, perhaps some are a little taller but they're not "big" guys. The big guys that you speak of are the anomalies.
I addressed your nonsensical comments earlier in the thread when you stated this:
"Buckeye, MRL, ODP and it was mostly small, marginally athletic kids playing a very "unphysical" game." As I stated at that time and I'll state again, you're probably a parent that thinks the best form of soccer is to have minimal passing in the midfield and have the defenders boot the ball up to the big, "athletic", and fast forward. You like a lot of physical play in games and favor it over a more technical affair. That kind of soccer might win lower-level games and recreational games but it isn't going to win at higher levels. I found it funny that you brought up Steve Nash, a fantastic basketball player that is also a decent soccer player, as an example of an athlete that spurned soccer for a different sport. I assumed that you pointed Nash out because you felt that he matched your "prototype" ideal of an athletic person. While Nash is fairly tall at 6'3", he is hardly a big guy at 170-180. Additionally, Nash is not particularly fast. He was such a good basketball player because he has insane technical skill and worked his off to get where he is. That is akin to many of the world's best soccer players.
When I addressed your comments I also pointed out some of the world's best futbolers that are small guys. I'll list out a few other than Messi. These guys play in Europe and the MLS. BTW, there is absolutely no comparison between the level of soccer played in the MLS vs the European leagues. These guys I'm listing are just random guys that popped into my head. There are many other examples of small guys.
Marco Reus (German that plays for Dortmund and the German NT) - 5'11" but probably around 160 lbs
Xavi (Retired Spaniard that was a longtime fixture for Barcelona and the Spanish NT) - 5'7", 140 to 150
Neymar (Brazilian on the NT and previously played at Barca and is now at PSG) - 5'7", 140s
Luka Modric (Croatian on the NT and currently at Real Madrid. Many think the best central mid in the game) - 5'7", 140s
Philippe Coutinho (Brazilian on the NT, previously at Liverpool and now at Bayern) - 5'8", 150s
Franck Ribery (French on the NT, a long time Bayern player and now at Serie A side Fiorentina) - 5'7", 150ish
Mesut Ozil (German on the NT and a long-time Bundesliga, Real Madrid, and Arsenal player) - he's around 6' but is probably 150 lbs at most
Christian Pulisic (the "Great Statesian Hope" on the NT, previously at Dortmund and now at Chelsea) - Pulisic is 5'7" or 8" and a huge 135 lbs
Dani Alves (one of my all-time faves, capt of Brazilian NT with a long Euro career at Barca, Juventus, and PSG. Now plays professionally in Brazil) - 5'8", 150-160
Josef Martinez (Venezuelan goal scoring machine on the NT and currently at Atlanta FC. Good enough to play in Europe) - 5'7", 150ish
Sebastian Giovinco (Italian on the NT, a long-time Juventus player, played at Toronto and currently in Saudi Arabia) - he's a tall guy at 5'3"
Michael Barrios (Colombian at FC Dallas) - another 5'2" guy, about 130 lbs
Maxi Moralez (Argentinian assist machine occasionally on the NT and currently at NYC) - the call him Maxi because he's HUGE at 5'3" and 115-120 lbs
Wayne Rooney (English NT player and a long-time fixture at Man U, currently at DC United and going back to England at the end of the MLS season to be a player-coach at Derby County) - Rooney is 5'9" but he is a bulldog and a bit heavier than these other guys. He's hardly fast, though
I think I've made my point. These guys are all technically proficient guys that don't fit your "ideal" of big and fast.
What probably is going on, Sportsjock, is that you have a son that you deem to be "athletic" because he's probably big for his age and you probably think that he's fast. However, he is not technically proficient. He tried out for one of the FCC Academy teams but he didn't make it because he's not good enough. This more than likely explains your bitterness.
Also, I'll address this comment.
I happen to know a few of the families of the FCC players. They probably wish that they were "rich." You have no basis for that comment. As to your "Caucasian" comment; it's so racist that I won't even go there.
I won't get into the argument that inner-city kids are underprivileged and are not served and don't get good opportunities to play. It's a drum that I have beaten in the past. Come up with a solution for it, or produce some meaningful dialogue, but in the meantime don't insinuate that the Academy players are all from "rich" families or spoiled.