Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. The game is partly about athleticism; players must be mentally and physically fit to excel in the sport. And one of the critical attributes of a player is speed. Who is the fastest soccer player?
The teams with the fastest football players take advantage of their opponents during counter-attacks. Outrunning the defenders helps a team to score more goals, which is the game's main objective. Speed is, therefore, one of the most crucial qualities of a footballer when putting together a team. These are some of the fastest soccer players with lightning speed.
20 Fastest Soccer Players
Most football stars are fast players regardless of their position as defenders, strikers, or midfield fielders. Below are the fastest players in the world and their speeds.
20. Alphonso Davies (36.2 km/h)
Alphonso Davies is a Canadian professional footballer who plays for Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team. With an average speed of 36.2 km/h, the young star has attracted interest from other clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
19. Erling Haaland (36.2 km/h)
Haaland is one of the fastest soccer players, thanks to his height. Haaland is a Norwegian native who also played for the Norway national team. Before joining Manchester City, the top footballer played for Borussia Dortmund. His average speed is 36.22 km/h.
18. Federico Valverde (36.3 km/h)
The midfielder plays for Real Madrid and the Uruguay national team. He has performed well at Real. With a speed of 36.3 km/h, Valverde has become a critical player for his squad.
17. Claudio Caniggia (36.4 km/h)
Claudio Caniggia is a former Argentine professional football player who played as a forward or winger and represented his national team. This Argentine star is said to have hit an average speed of 36.43 km/h throughout his career.
16. Achraf Hakimi (36.48 km/h)
Hakimi is a Paris Saint-Germain right-back player in the Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The footballer was born in Spain but plays for the Morocco national team. Hakimi utilises his speed in the offence and defence. Before joining PSG, he played for Real Madrid.
15. Rafael Leao (36.5 km/h)
Rafael Leao is a left winger for AC Milan and the Portugal national team. The dynamic forward is fast and has a technical ability to outrun opponents. Above his speed, he is also a good dribbler, making his opponents sweat.
14. Moussa Diaby (36.52 km/h)
The French professional footballer is a right winger for Aston Villa and the France national team. The talented player has a speed of 36.52 (km/h). Moussa is fast and agile, making him transition swiftly on the field.
13. Darwin Nunez (36.53 km/h)
Darwin Nunez is one of the fastest footballers in the Premier League, with a top speed of 36.5 km/h. He previously played for Benfica before joining Liverpool. The footballer is also part of Uruguay's national team as a striker.
12. Mohamed Salah (36.6 km/h)
Mohamed Salah, famously known as Mo Salah, is one of the best players in Liverpool's history. He plays as a winger and is a phenomenon in scoring goals. The Egyptian-born footballer is also the captain of Egypt's national team. After joining Liverpool, he scored 32 goals in his first season.
11. Adama Traore (36.6 km/h)
Adama Traoré Diarra, professionally known as Adama Traoré, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Fulham as a right winger. He also plays for the Spain national team. His speed and dribbling skills set him apart from others.
10. Ousmane Dembele (36.6 km/h)
Dembele is a French footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Previously, he played for F.C Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, some of the wealthiest clubs in the world. Dembele capitalises on his speed to defeat opponents, which makes him thrive as a winger.
9. Anthony Gordon (36.61 km/h)
Everton's Anthony Gordon is the fourth-fastest footballer in the Premier League, with a speed of 36.61 km/h. He is a left winger for Newcastle United. The young footballer has proved himself an asset to the team.
8. Mykhailo Mudryk (36.63 km/h)
Mykhailo Mudryk is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays for the Ukraine national team and as a winger at Chelsea in the Premier League. He is among the fastest Premier League footballers, with a 36.63 km/h speed. Many clubs were eyeing the Ukrainian player, but Chelsea snatched him in January.
