How Fast Are Soccer Players Compared to American Football Players?

Soccer players and American football players have both achieved impressive speeds on the field, with the fastest soccer player in the world, Alphonso Davies, clocking in at 22.69 miles per hour and the fastest American football player, Jonathan Taylor, at 22.3 miles per hour. This means that the two sports are very close in terms of speed. When we think of the fastest soccer players, we usually think of attacking players who are adept at taking on defenders and creating chances. However, speed is also important for defensive players, and Manchester United's Aaron Wan Bissaka has demonstrated that having an extra burst of pace can be a great advantage in one-on-one situations.

Surprisingly, Manchester City's Phil Foden is also one of the fastest players in the Premier League. His technical skills are complemented by his ability to move quickly on the pitch. World Cup-winning forward Kylian Mbappé is one of the best soccer players in the world and is renowned for his incredible speed both on and off the ball. Kylian Mbappé is currently the fifth-fastest player in football and is faster than Jonathan Taylor, the fastest player in the NFL.

Statistics show that soccer players may be slightly faster than American football players, but they are very close in terms of speed. Midfielders, wingers and forwards all need to be fast to be successful, so having a good turn of pace is an essential attribute for any soccer player. American football players find it more difficult to run long distances without restrictions due to the number of barriers they face. In contrast, soccer players are more likely to run at full speed without control, particularly when their team is on the counterattack.

For example, Raheem Sterling averaged 51 sprints per game with Manchester City during last year's Champions League. Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland is one of the fastest players in world football and could be a great asset for Real Madrid if he joins them. The current record holder for the fastest soccer player in the world is Kylian Mbappé.