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Speed Kings: Who Are the Fastest Soccer Players

Speed Kings: Who Are the Fastest Soccer Players

July 7, 2023 by

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Soccer is a speedy sport by design. The action is almost nonstop from the moment the athletes enter the pitch. This difference is especially striking when you look at other popular sports like baseball or American football. These sports are exciting to watch in their own ways, but soccer is so fast that you just can’t look away.

This swift sport is taken to another level entirely when speedy superstars come into play. Being able to make your way up and down the pitch takes a lot of endurance, but doing so at top speed is another skill entirely.

This article is dedicated to the speedsters of soccer. We’ll be covering the fastest players throughout all fútbol leagues worldwide. From the MLS to the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and more, keep reading to find out about some of the fastest footballers currently playing the game.

Remember that since we’re sticking with current footballers you could see play today, we won’t include retired players like Gareth Bale.

Kylian Mbappe

A star forward and frequent winger for Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG for short), Kylian Mbappe is by many accounts the fastest footballer playing today. He achieved incredible speeds of 37.98 km/h (23.6 mph) while sprinting down the field during the 2022/2023 season. This easily makes him one of the fastest football players to set foot on the pitch.

Mbappe’s blistering speeds have given him acclaim on the world football stage. Since he’s so fast, people often wonder how he stacks up to Usain Bolt, the world record holder for the 100- and 200-meter dashes, among others. While Mbappe is a phenomenal talent, Bolt has reached speeds of up to 44.72 km/h (27.8 mph).

While Mbappe might not move as quickly as the fastest man on the planet, good luck spotting him as he makes his way toward the goalkeeper.

Kyle Walker

While Mbappe might be the fastest footballer around, he is closely rivaled by Kyle Walker. This defender for Manchester City FC is the fastest player in the Premier League (featuring popular teams like Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, and more). Walker runs at speeds of up to 37.31 km/h (23.3 mph). 

While many other players on our list play offense, Walker’s speed is immensely helpful when it comes to fighting back against counterattacks.

Antonio Rüdiger

Throughout his illustrious career with teams like Roma, Chelsea FC, the German National Team, and Real Madrid, Antonio Rüdiger has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world. He currently has a four-year contract as a center-back for Real Madrid.

Besides his ability to tackle just about anyone, Rüdiger also gets up to 36.7 km/h (22.8 mph) speeds.

Adama Traoré

Adama Traoré easily established himself as a champion of the Premier League, having set a record as one of the fastest players ever in the league in 2021. During a match against Manchester City, at one point, he ran at 36.6 km/h (22.7 mph). That speed was recorded while he was playing as a midfielder for the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (affectionately just called “the Wolves” by fans).

Mohamed Salah

A striker for both Liverpool Football Club and the Egyptian International team, Mo Salah is like lightning on the field. He scored 23 goals in 2022 with Liverpool, making him the top scorer in the Premier League that year. Reaching speeds of 36.6 km/h (22.74 mph), there’s simply no stopping Salah.

Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies is a full-back, left-back, and winger who started his career with the MLS in 2015. At that point, he played for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since then, he has continued to come into his own more and more. In 2019, he switched leagues and joined Bayern Munich, a part of the Bundesliga (which includes teams like Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and more).

With Bayern Munich, he has been recorded at speeds of 36.51 km/h (22.69 mph), making him one of the fastest players in the history of the Bundesliga.

Achraf Hakimi

The right-back for Borussia Dortmund, Moroccan athlete Achraf Hakimi has proved his skills on the field time and time again. While he got up to 35.29 km/h (21.9 mph) at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he’s been clocked going faster than that since. Bundesliga reports that Hakimi has reached speeds of 36.49 km/h (22.67 mph).

Erling Haaland

Next up on our list is Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. During his tenure at Manchester City and on the Norway National Team, he has clocked speeds up to 36.2 km/h (22.49 mph). Haaland’s noteworthy speed and agility make him a star goalscorer.

In the 2022/2023 season alone, he scored 12 goals in the UEFA Champions League, 36 in the Premier League, three in the FA Cup, and one in the Carabao Cup. When the defense sees Haaland dribbling toward them, the dream of a tackle is difficult to achieve. More often than not, all that’s left for defenders to do is hope for the best.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Throughout his career, Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved speeds of up to 33.6 km/h (20.87 mph). While Ronaldo might be slower than some of the other entries on our list, his fame and success make him well worth a mention.

Don’t get us wrong; he’s still an incredible player. His contributions to teams like Manchester United FC and Real Madrid CF were invaluable.

Lionel Messi

Another recognizable name from the international fútbol scene, Lionel Messi, is one of the best soccer players ever to kick a ball. Messi is best known for having played with FC Barcelona for 17 seasons. However, he is now strutting his stuff in the MLS with Inter Miami CF.

In case you were wondering, Messi is capable of strutting said stuff at top speeds of 32.5 km/h (20.19 mph).

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We chose to highlight athletes who are still playing the game to emphasize that it’s even more exciting to see a game in person now than ever before. There are so many incredible players who regularly take to the field. Watching them on TV is great, but seeing a match in real life is an unparalleled experience.

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