Just curious as to whether or not anyone has any insight to actual statistics on this? I remember reading about.... I don't know, 6+ months ago, that Henry is the fastest footballer in the world (i.e.: Runs the fastest 50 yard dash, or something) Anyone know?
It depends on whether you are talking about on the ball or off. In my opinion Ronaldo is the fastest player on the ball. Off the ball it would be impossible to tell. Martins is fast as well as Richards, honestly I don't think many clubs hold sprint tests.
With ball - 1) C. Ronaldo 2) L. Messi 3) A. Robben Without ball - 1) I. Cordoba 2) D. Odonkor 3) O. Martins
- Bernard Mendy (France) - David Odonkor (Germany) - Obafemi Martins (Nigeria) - Bakary Koné (Ivory Coast) - Iván Córdoba (Colombia) - Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) - Emmanuel Eboué (Ivory Coast) - Park Ji-Sung (South Korea) - Nelson Cuevas (Paraguay) - Aaron Lennon (England) - Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Holland) - Nigel Reo-Coker (England) - Arthur Boka (Ivory Coast) - Néicer Reasco (Ecuador) - Luis Amaranto Perea (Colombia) - Freddy Adú (United States) - Eddie Johnson (United States) - Arjen Robben (Holland) - Mohamed Kallon (Sierra Leona) - Jermain Defoe (England) - Ibrahim Afellay (Holland) - Pierre Womé (Cameroon)
Leicester's Iranian right-back Hossein Kaebi deserves a mention. I think I heard some commentator say he's one of the fastest players in the world.
When Messi gets flying his speed is difficult to handle. Why would you not list him as fast over 100m, thats crazy? He doesn't have full out sprint due to small legs, but 100m is still a short sprint.
He's clearly at his best in very short distances, his acceleration is nuts. So he can beat a guy, burst 5-7m, beat another guy etc. etc. For comparison, look at Kaka's goal against Argentina, Kaka had the ball, Messi didn't. It's not conclusive, but Messi is not the fastest over longer distances.
Robben, Odonkor, Martins, Agbonlahor, Beasley with quick acceleration- Messi, Ribery, Lennon, C Ronaldo
I remember the comparison between Kaká and Messi velocity from this goal: [youtube]fqmsVc4eCdM[/youtube] The velocity of Kaká is impressive. And the known game when Bernard Mendy compares his sprint against to Roberto Carlos: [youtube]A4pj54w0Y90[/youtube]
The fastest player is probably some virtually unkown. And there's more than one type of fast -Agility/Acceleration-Flat out speed. They all probably have a different winner.
actually if u tie up a twinkie to in front of a fat ass and kicking the ball is the fastest soccer player you can get amarale un pedaso de carne behind him and let the perros chase him now lets see whos the fastest matha facking soccer player alive LOL!
this guy yeh i quess ur rite but its sure funny seeing a fat ass runnin like hell n e ways my personal favorite wit the ball is cristiano ronaldo and wit out would prolly be neri idk theres just so many players out the world that we havent seen or heard so no one will ever know unless someone hosts a competition on the fastest soccer player alive wit and witout a ball!
it's funny how Kaka and Messi look so... small (not much explosive power in those legs). You wouldn't imagine them to be that fast. C Ronaldo, too.
Odonkor is insanely fast. Something that speaks for this is that he gets to play at high-level clubs, despite his crappy ball control and not being able to hit a decent cross in 20 tries. It's all speed. I like him, he's a funny player. He's like a 60-meter runner who sometimes happens to get a ball at his feet.
it was soo obvious in the wc, against argentina, man would always outpace everyone, but once he got the ball, didn't know what to do with it.