In football, there is no substitute for raw pace. The sight of a lightning-quick winger, skillfully weaving through defenders while sprinting full tilt, is enough to unsettle even the most seasoned defenders. Icons like the original Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, and Fernando Torres were known for their blistering speed. Today, players like Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka are equally electrifying. Here are the top 10 fastest football players in the world for 2024.
Football: A Game Defined by Speed, Stamina, and Skill
The evolution of the modern athlete has raised fitness and technical skills to unprecedented levels. The saying that speed cannot be taught has never rung truer. A quick attacker can leave defenders in their wake, making pace an invaluable asset for footballers. Wingers must possess this quality; otherwise, their effectiveness diminishes. The exhilarating spectacle of a winger sprinting down the touchline, taking on retreating defenders, is a hallmark of football.
Pace is not a skill that can be acquired; it’s inherent. Forwards, in particular, must have speed, as the game has moved away from bulky target men of previous decades. Many of the fastest players throughout football history remain unrecorded, as speed metrics were not accurately tracked until recently. Even superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lack definitive speed records from the early stages of their careers. So, who claims the title of the fastest footballer today? E2bet has compiled a list showcasing the speedsters of the 2023/24 season, including some surprising names among the best players in the game.
Speed: A Hallmark of the Best Players
Historically, the best forwards have always had speed. The original Ronaldo possessed both pace and power, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s combination of speed and agility left defenders bewildered. Current stars like Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka are among the top right wingers globally, showcasing extraordinary speed.
The world’s best left wingers are equally quick. Mikel Oyarzabal, Vinícius Júnior, Rafael Leão, and Luis Díaz are renowned for their ability to outpace defenders. Oyarzabal’s phenomenal performance at the UEFA Euro 2024, culminating in a decisive strike during the final against England, confirmed Spain’s status as a football powerhouse. Oyarzabal clocked a top speed of 32.10 km/h during the tournament, surprising many who believed he appeared faster on screen. Leão achieved an impressive 35.40 km/h at AC Milan, while Díaz reached 33.10 km/h at Liverpool.
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Vinícius Júnior is a standout in La Liga, boasting a top speed of 36 km/h in the 2023/24 season. His incredible season with Real Madrid made him the highest-scoring left winger globally, with Oyarzabal and Leão closely following. Díaz has also started the 2024/25 season with remarkable form, netting several goals for both club and country.
In 2020, Alphonso Davies set the record for the fastest sprint in the Bundesliga, reaching a staggering 36.51 km/h while playing for Bayern Munich. This record stood until the arrival of Micky van de Ven, who shattered previous records in the Premier League.
Fastest Players in the English Premier League
Thierry Henry is often regarded as one of the fastest players in Premier League history, reaching a top speed of 39.20 km/h in 1998, a record that remains unbroken. In contrast, Erling Haaland’s speed is deceptive; he clocked 36.22 km/h against Brighton in the 2022/23 season, demonstrating his ability to evade defenders effectively.
Haaland, Bukayo Saka, and Salah are among the Premier League’s elite strikers. Saka’s impressive performance helped Arsenal push for the title, earning him the PFA ‘Young Player of the Year’ award in 2022/23. In the same season, Haaland was named ‘Premier League Young Player of the Year,’ while Salah recorded a maximum speed of 36.60 km/h. However, Anthony Gordon surpassed them all, reaching an astounding 36.68 km/h in the 2023/24 season.
Adama Traoré, known for his speed, matched Salah’s pace but remained slower than Gordon. Interestingly, Chiedozie Ogbene achieved the fastest recorded speed among forwards in the 2023/24 season, clocking in at 36.93 km/h against Luton Town.
Fastest Defenders in the World
Speed is also crucial for defenders. A fast defender can effectively counterattack and reposition after a turnover. Legendary Brazilian players like Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Dani Alves were known for their speed. Today, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk exemplify the need for speed in defense.
Micky van de Ven broke records in 2024, achieving a top speed of 37.38 km/h during a match for Tottenham Hotspur against Brentford, making him the fastest player this season. He is one of eight Premier League players to make this list, with additional representation from the Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
In modern football, fullbacks are as quick as wingers, impacting tactical formations. While Walker and Alexander-Arnold are fast, they don’t quite match the sprinting prowess of the league’s top forwards.
The Speed of Kylian Mbappé
To provide perspective on Van de Ven’s speed, consider Kylian Mbappé, who clocked in at 38 km/h during a Ligue 1 match for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2018/19 season. This impressive feat established him as one of the fastest players in Ligue 1. Although Mbappé, along with players like Walker, Haaland, Salah, Saka, and Vini Jr., did not make the top 10 fastest players list for 2024, they still outpace legends like Messi and Ronaldo.
In fact, nine out of the ten fastest players in 2024 are from the Premier League, showcasing how speed has become a defining characteristic of modern football.
List of the 10 Fastest Footballers in 2024
| Rank | Player | EPL Fixture | Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micky van de Ven | Tottenham v Brentford | 37.38 km/h |
| 2 | Chiedozie Ogbene | Fulham v Luton | 36.93 km/h |
| 3 | Anthony Elanga | Tottenham v Nottingham Forest | 36.91 km/h |
| 4 | Pedro Neto | Luton v Wolves | 36.86 km/h |
| 5 | Jakub Moder | Sheffield United v Brighton | 36.84 km/h |
| 6 | Dominik Szoboszlai | Wolves v Liverpool | 36.76 km/h |
| 7 | Dara O’Shea | Burnley v Crystal Palace | 36.73 km/h |
| 8 | Anthony Gordon | Newcastle v Burnley | 36.68 km/h |
| 9 | Amadou Onana | Everton v Liverpool | 36.65 km/h |
| 10 | Eren Dinkçi | FC Heidenheim 1846 | 36.41 km/h |
Who Are the Fastest Players in the 2023/24 Season?
- Micky van de Ven, Tottenham v Brentford
Van de Ven showcased his exceptional speed with a record of 37.38 km/h, the fastest in the Premier League since statistics began in 2020. - Chiedozie Ogbene, Fulham v Luton
Ogbene reached an impressive 36.93 km/h against Fulham, securing the second spot on this list. - Anthony Elanga, Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest
Elanga clocked a speed of 36.91 km/h against Nottingham Forest, making him one of the season’s fastest. - Pedro Neto, Luton v Wolves
Neto recorded 36.86 km/h against Luton, setting his personal best. - Jakub Moder, Sheffield United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Moder reached 36.84 km/h against Sheffield United, the fastest for a midfielder in the Premier League. - Dominik Szoboszlai, Wolves v Liverpool
Szoboszlai’s top speed of 36.76 km/h came during Liverpool’s victory at Molineux Stadium. - Dara O’Shea, Burnley v Crystal Palace
O’Shea reached 36.73 km/h, marking him as the second-fastest defender in Premier League history. - Anthony Gordon, Newcastle v Burnley
Gordon clocked 36.68 km/h in Newcastle’s win over Burnley. - Amadou Onana, Everton v Liverpool
Onana achieved a speed of 36.65 km/h in the Merseyside derby, despite his team’s loss. - Eren Dinkçi, FC Heidenheim 1846
Dinkçi is the fastest non-Premier League player, reaching 36.41 km/h.
Conclusion
Speed is paramount in modern football. While goals and assists garner headlines, speed remains a critical factor in a player’s effectiveness on the pitch. The fastest players in 2024 are a mix of familiar names and surprising newcomers. This trend emphasizes the importance of speed as football continues to evolve.
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