The fastest soccer players have incredible speed that makes them stand out on the field.
Their ability to move quickly and leave opponents behind has made them highly respected. With their super-fast runs, these players can completely change the course of a game in an instant.
Whether they’re swiftly dodging defenders with the ball or making extremely fast runs into open spaces, the fastest soccer players prove athleticism and agility that leave fans amazed.
Modern soccer has become very fast and energetic.
Teams are quick to press and counter-attack, which has made players with extremely fast speed and acceleration an important part of the game.
Over the years, we have seen many players wow crowds with their incredible speed, both when they have the ball and when they don’t.
This has enabled them to outmaneuver opponents in one-on-one situations.
- Arjen Robben – 37 km/h
- Alphonso Davies – 36.51 km/h
- Ousmane Dembélé – 36.50 km/h
- Kylian Mbappé – 36.08 km/h
- Erling Haaland – 36.04 km/h
- Antonio Valencia – 35.1 km/h
- Kyle Walker – 35.21 km/h
- Theo Walcott – 35 km/h
- Gareth Bale – 34.7 km/h
- Gaël Clichy – 34.62 km/h
- Mohamed Salah – 33.8 km/h
- Obafemi Martins – 33.6 km/h
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 33.6 km/h
- Claudio Caniggia – 33.4 km/h
- Hector Bellerín – 33.33 km/h
- Dennis Rommedahl – 33.1 km/h
- Lionel Messi – 32.5 km/h
- Franck Ribéry – 30.7 km/h
- Gareth Southgate – 30.3 km/h
- Maicon – 30 km/h
- Ahmed Musa – 29.8 km/h
- Aaron Lennon – 29.8 km/h
- Leroy Sané – 29.7 km/h
- David Odonkor – 29.7 km/h
- Douglas Costa – 29.5 km/h
Arjen Robben – 37 km/h
The Dutch winger stands atop the list as one of the fastest soccer players ever.
His acceleration and top speed allowed him to leave defenders trailing in his wake. Robben’s trademark move of cutting inside from the wing often saw him unleash powerful shots into the net.
Alphonso Davies – 36.51 km/h
A Canadian prodigy has burst onto the scene with incredible speed and agility.
His lightning-fast runs down the left flank for Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team have made him a rising star in world football.
Ousmane Dembélé – 36.50 km/h
The French forward is known for his blistering speed and explosive bursts.
His ability to accelerate quickly and maintain his pace while dribbling has made him a formidable threat in one-on-one situations.
Kylian Mbappé – 36.08 km/h
The young French sensation possesses exceptional speed, agility, and quickness.
At an early stage in his career, he has already established himself as one of the fastest players in the game, leaving defenders in his dust with ease.
Erling Haaland – 36.04 km/h
A prolific goalscorer combines his towering physique with impressive speed.
His ability to sprint past defenders, create space, and finish with clinical precision has made him a formidable force on the field.
Antonio Valencia – 35.1 km/h
A former Manchester United winger was renowned for his raw speed and ability to cover ground quickly.
His blistering pace made him a valuable asset both defensively and offensively, providing an attacking outlet down the right flank.
Kyle Walker – 35.21 km/h
The English right-back combines physicality with impressive speed.
His quickness allows him to recover defensively and make vital interceptions, while also contributing to the attack with his marauding runs down the flank.
Theo Walcott – 35 km/h
Theo Walcott burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy with Arsenal, showing remarkable speed and acceleration.
His raw pace often left defenders struggling to keep up with his lightning-quick runs down the wings.
Gareth Bale – 34.7 km/h
The Welsh winger is known for his explosive bursts of speed and powerful running style.
Bale’s ability to maintain his velocity while carrying the ball has allowed him to outpace defenders and create scoring opportunities.
Gaël Clichy – 34.62 km/h
The former French left-back possessed excellent speed and stamina.
His ability to overlap and join the attack, while also maintaining defensive solidity, made him a valuable asset for his teams.
Mohamed Salah – 33.8 km/h
The Egyptian Messi combines exceptional speed with exquisite dribbling skills.
His explosive pace allows him to make penetrating runs behind the defense, creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities.
Obafemi Martins – 33.6 km/h
The Nigerian striker was known for his lightning-fast speed and acceleration.
His ability to leave defenders trailing behind him with his rapid runs made him a consistent threat in the attacking third.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 33.6 km/h
One of the greatest players of all time combines strength, skill, and impressive speed.
Although not the fastest player on this list, Ronaldo’s explosive acceleration and top speed, coupled with his physicality, make him a constant threat in every game.
His explosive acceleration and top speed have made him one of the fastest players to have ever graced the game.
Claudio Caniggia – 33.4 km/h
The Argentine forward possessed remarkable speed and acceleration.
His rapid bursts of pace allowed him to evade defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities. Caniggia’s speed was a crucial asset for both club and country during his playing days.
Hector Bellerín – 33.33 km/h
He is widely recognized as one of the fastest players in modern soccer.
His remarkable acceleration and top speed make him a reliable defensive option while also providing an attacking threat on the overlap.
Dennis Rommedahl – 33.1 km/h
He is known for his electrifying speed and agility.
His quickness and ability to change direction at high speed made him a challenging player to defend against.
Rommedahl’s pace was key to his success as he tormented defenses with his blistering runs down the wings.
Lionel Messi – 32.5 km/h
Known for his extraordinary dribbling skills possesses a unique combination of agility, balance, and quickness.
Despite not possessing blistering top speed, Messi’s quick bursts of acceleration and his ability to change direction with incredible agility make him one of the most elusive players on the field.
Franck Ribéry – 30.7 km/h
The French winger, possessed exceptional close control, quick feet, and dribbling skills.
While not the fastest player on the list, Ribéry’s agility and ability to navigate through defenses with ease set him apart.
Gareth Southgate – 30.3 km/h
Before becoming England’s manager, Gareth Southgate was a solid center-back known for his surprising speed.
His ability to recover and make crucial last-ditch tackles was enhanced by his remarkable pace.
Southgate’s speed was a valuable asset in his defensive game, allowing him to neutralize opposition attacks effectively.
Maicon – 30 km/h
The Brazilian full-back was a complete package with exceptional attacking and defensive abilities.
His incredible speed allowed him to bomb forward and contribute to the attack while remaining solid at the back.
Maicon’s ability to cover ground quickly and maintain his pace throughout the game made him a threat to opposing teams.
Ahmed Musa – 29.8 km/h
The Nigerian forward is known for his lightning-quick speed and acceleration.
His ability to outpace defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities has made him a prominent figure in Nigerian soccer.
Musa’s bursts of speed on the counterattack have left defenders struggling to keep up.
Aaron Lennon – 29.8 km/h
Aaron Lennon’s acceleration and agility made him a formidable winger in the Premier League.
His ability to change direction quickly and leave opponents in the dust was a sight to behold. Lennon’s rapid rush of speed down the flank often caused chaos in opposition defenses.
Leroy Sané – 29.7 km/h
His explosive speed and dribbling ability have made him a sought-after player in the world of soccer.
His bursts of acceleration and direct style of play have often left defenders helpless.
Sané’s ability to use his speed to take on defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities has made him a key player for his club and country.
David Odonkor – 29.7 km/h
He burst onto the international stage during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, showcasing incredible speed and agility.
His remarkable pace and direct style of play made him a key player for Germany during their impressive campaign. Odonkor’s speed allowed him to stretch defenses and provide valuable width in attack.
Douglas Costa – 29.5 km/h
His lightning-quick feet and speed have made him a valuable asset for the teams he has played for.
His ability to glide past opponents with ease is a testament to his incredible acceleration and agility.
Costa’s speed, coupled with his technical skills, allows him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Other Fastest Soccer Players
- Thierry Henry
- Darwin Nunez
- Marcus Rashford
- Antony Rudiger
- Shawn Wright-Philip
- Achraf Hakimi
- Orlando Berrio
- Jurgen Damm
- Aubameyang
- Karim Bellarabi
Final Whistle
To sum it up, speed is a game-changer in modern soccer.
Fast players have the ability to leave opponents in their dust, making them struggle to keep up. They captivate the crowd with their impressive quickness, whether they have the ball or not.
Their speed gives them an edge in one-on-one situations and adds an extra thrill to the beautiful game.