20 Fastest Football Players Of All Time With Their Top Speeds

Speed is a crucial quality a footballer can have, as the ability to outrace opponents is beneficial in particular game situations, like a counter-attack or a one-on-one battle. Over the years, some players have built a reputation for being fast and have used it to their team's advantage. So, who are the fastest football players of all time?

We analysed various factors to determine the fastest football players, including position, speed records, game situations, and distance covered. We also used data from Premier League and Bundesliga.

List of the fastest football players of all time

Football is physically demanding, and the speeds players generate show this. These speeds are generated when players accelerate to attack or defend. Here are the fastest football players of all time.

1. Thiery Henry - 39.2 Km/h

• Full name: Thiery Daniel Henry
• Position: Forward
• Clubs: Juventus, Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona

Who is the fastest football player ever? Thiery Henry is the fastest soccer player of all time. In 1998, he registered 39.2 Km/h, the fastest speed recorded in soccer in a major league. The footballer was known for his blistering pace, which he used effectively to beat defenders and score goals.

2. Kylian Mbappé - 38 Km/h

• Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin
• Position: Forward
• Clubs: Monaco, Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé’s top speed of 38 Km/h ranks him as the second-fastest footballer. He recorded this speed in a Ligue 1 match against Monaco in 2019, when he sprinted ahead of four defenders and scored a goal.

On average, his pace was quicker than Usain Bolt when he won the 100m in 9.58 seconds. The French international is the fastest man in Real Madrid's dressing room and is expected to win more titles at the Bernabeu.

3. Kyle Walker - 37.8 Km/h

• Full name: Kyle Andrew Walker
• Position: Right-back
• Clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Manchester City

The English defender is one of the fastest defenders in the game. In June 2020, he hit the top speed of 37.8 Km/h and was the Premier League’s quickest player of the season. Walker is in his seventh year at Manchester City and has won six Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League, and the Community Shield.

4. Mahmoud Trezeguet - 37.5 km/h

• Full name: Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan
• Position: Forward
• Clubs: Anderlecht, Aston Villa, Trabzonspor

Mahmoud Trezeguet was one of the Premier League’s fastest players, recording a speed of 37.5 km/h during his time at Aston Villa. He joined the club in 2019 and left three years later. The forward joined the Turkish club Trabzonspor and is currently on loan at Al-Rayyan SC in Qatar.

5. Micky Van de Ven - 37.38 Km/h

• Full name: Micky Van de Ven
• Position: Centre-back
• Clubs: Tottenham Hotspur

Micky Van de Ven is one of the fastest players in the Premier League, having clocked 37.38 Km/h against Brentford in January 2024. To put this into perspective, Usain Bolt’s average speed was 10.44m per second, or 23.35 miles per hour, when he broke the world record.

By comparison, Van de Ven reached 10.38m per second, or 23.33 miles per hour, which underscored the magnitude of his achievement.

6. Chiedozie Ogbene - 36.93 Km/h

• Full name: Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene
• Position: Winger
• Clubs: Brentford, Luton Town, Ipswich Town

Chiedozie has been featured on the list of the fastest Premier League players multiple times. He recorded this speed during Luton’s defeat to Fulham. Ogbene was a key player for Luton, having played 30 games. He moved to Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee. On the international stage, the winger represents the Republic of Ireland.

7. Gareth Bale - 36.90 Km/h

• Full name: Gareth Frank Bale
• Position: Winger
• Clubs: Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, Los Angeles FC

The former Welsh footballer was known for his remarkable speed, clocking a top speed of 36.90 Km/h. He clocked this during a Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona.

Usain Bolt was impressed by this achievement and playfully remarked, “I could help him with his career.” Beyond his pace, Bale was a skilful player, scoring memorable and important goals, like his bicycle kick in the Champions League.

8. Pedro Neto - 36.86 Km/h

• Full name: Pedro Lomba Neto
• Positions: Winger
• Clubs: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea

Pedro Neto is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Chelsea. He rose to prominence at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he registered a 36.86 Km/h speed. Neto joined the club in 2019 from the Italian club Lazio. He played 111 games for the Wolves and scored 10 goals. During the 2024 transfer window, the winger signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea.

9. Dominik Szoboszlai - 36.76 Km/h

• Full name: Dominik Szoboszlai
• Position: Midfielder
• Clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, Liverpool

The Hungarian player hit the ground running in his first season, registering a speed of 36.76 Km/h against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Szoboszlai ranked fifth among the fastest Premier League players of 2023. He played 33 games and was a key player during Jurgen Klopp’s last season.

10. Dara O’Shea - 36.73 Km/h

• Full name: Dara Joseph O’Shea
• Position: Defender
• Clubs: West Bromwich Albion, Burnley, Ipswich Town

Dara plays for Ipswich Town. His 36.73 Km/h came during his time at Burnley in a game against Crystal Palace in November 2023. Previously, O’Shea represented West Bromwich Albion. Internationally, he has received over 20 caps for Ireland.

11. Antonio Rudiger - 36.72 Km/h

• Full name: Antonio Rudiger
• Position: Centre-back
• Clubs: Real Madrid

Antonio Rudiger is one of the best defenders in football. He is known for his physicality and defensive solidity. Beyond that, the German player’s speed adds to his defensive capabilities.

He achieved this top speed at Chelsea in the 2021/22 season against Brighton & Hove Albion. The player left the Blues in 2022 for Real Madrid.

12. Brennan Johnson - 36.70 Km/h

• Full name: Brennan Price Johnson
• Position: Forward, winger
• Clubs: Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur

Brennan Johnson plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He previously played for Nottingham Forest, where he recorded his top speed of 36.70 km/h against Manchester City in February.

13. Anthony Gordon - 36.68 Km/h

• Full name: Anthony Michael Gordon
• Position: Winger
• Clubs: Everton, Newcastle United

Anthony Gordon is one of the fastest football players of all time. In September 2023, he clocked 36.68 km/h against Burnley to produce the ninth-fastest speed of the 2023/24 season. Gordon joined Newcastle in 2023 from Everton and is a key player for the team, playing 35 matches in the 2023/24 season.

14. Sirlord Conteh - 36.67 Km/h

• Full name: Sirlord Calvin Conteh
• Position: Winger
• Clubs: TSV Sassel, 1. FC Magdeburg, SC Paderborn

Conteh plays for 1. FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. His speed, 36.67 Km/h, which he set against Augsburg in the second game of the 2024/25 season, is the fastest in the league’s history. His previous stints in the league have been with 1. FC Magdeburg, and SC Paderborn.

15. Karim Adeyemi - 36.65 Km/h

• Full name: Karim-David Adeyemi
• Position: Winger, forward
• Clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund

Karim Adeyemi was the fastest player in the Bundesliga before Sirlord Conteh. In the 2022/23 season. Adeyemi entered the history books after clocking 36.65 km/h against Freiburg. The German-born Nigerian is one of Dortmund’s influential players. He joined the club in 2022 from Red Bull Salzburg.

16. Amadou Onana - 36.65 Km/h

• Full name: Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana
• Position: Defensive midfielder
• Clubs: Lille, Everton, Aston Villa

The Senegalese player was the 10th fastest Premier League player in the 2023/24 season. In October 2023, he reached a speed of 36.65 Km/h during the Merseyside derby. He played for Everton for two seasons, 2022/23 and 2023/24, and featured in 63 games.

17. Mohamed Salah - 36.64 Km/h

• Full name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
• Position: Right winger, forward
• Clubs: Chelsea, Roma Liverpool

Salah is known for his pace on and off the ball. He dominates the right wing with speed and trickery, leaving defenders in a daze. Consequently, he has scored 214 goals for Liverpool since he arrived in 2017.

18. Darwin Nunez - 36.5 Km/h

• Full name: Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro
• Position: Forward
• Clubs: Liverpool, Benfica

In 2022, reports emerged that Darwin Nunez set a new Premier League speed record. It was believed that he reached a speed of 38 km/h against West Ham United. However, Statistics firm Opta said the figure was inaccurate, and he reached a top speed of 36.5 km/h.

19. Federico Valverde - 36.3 Km/h

• Full name: Federico Santiago Valverde Dipetta
• Position: Central midfielder, winger
• Clubs: Real Madrid

Federico Valverde is one of Madrid’s most dependable players. His speed allows him to transition from midfielder to winger, opening up options for the team and making him an indispensable asset. He has been with the club since 2017 and has played over 200 games.

20. Ronaldo Nazario - 36.2 Km/h

• Full name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
• Position: Forward
• Clubs: Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan

Ronaldo Nazario's top speed was 36.2 Km/h, which made him unstoppable in one-on-one duels. Although Ronaldo’s top speed was not officially recorded, reports claim he was one of the fastest players during his career. The Brazilian is one of the most successful, having won multiple titles at the club and national level.

Final word

These are the fastest football players of all time. They constantly outperform slow opponents, exposing their defences while creating scoring opportunities for their teams.

Tuko.co.ke published an article ranking the best midfielders in the world. The midfield is a crucial area on the pitch, and teams spend big sums of money to get the best midfielders. Whether it is a defensive, attacking, wide, or central midfielder, their importance cannot be understated. Read the article to find out who the world’s best midfielders are.

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L to R: Salah against Manchester United FC. Henry against Burnley. Bale against Getafe CF.

Thierry Henry against Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium on February 4, 2012 in London, England.

Left: Kylian Mbappe celebrates a goal in a La Liga match. Right: Kylian Mbappé in a La Liga match against Real Betis.