Both soccer and American football players are lightning-fast; there’s no getting away from it. But which sport has the faster players? Let’s find out!
Who has the faster players – soccer or football?
Both soccer and American players have racked up speeds of over 22 mph on the field and are so closely matched in terms of speeds. The fastest soccer player in the world is Alphonso Davies (22.69 mph), while the fastest American football player in the world is Jonathan Taylor (22.3 mph). As you can see, there’s so little between the two, meaning that the fastest soccer and American football players run at roughly the same speeds.
A comparison of the fastest players in each sport
The speeds that some soccer and American football players reach out on the field are remarkable. It’s not uncommon for the fastest guys in each sport to clock regularly 22mph+, which is phenomenally fast! To give you an idea of how the sports compare, the table below illustrates the top five fastest players in each game:
| Soccer | American Football |
| Alphonso Davies (FC Bayern) 22.69 mph | Jonathan Taylor (Colts) 22.3 mph |
| Achraf Hakimi (PSG) 22.67 mph | Marquez Valdes Scantling (Packers) 22.09 mph |
| Adama Traore (Barcelona) 22.61 mph | Patrick Surtrain (Broncos) 22.07 mph |
| Marcus Rashford (Man Utd) 22.55 mph | Derrick Henry (Titans) 21.8 mph |
| Kylian Mbappe (PSG) 22.42 mph | Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins) 21.8 mph |
The table shows that Kylian Mbappe, the fifth-fastest player in soccer, is faster than Jonathan Taylor, the fastest player in the NFL. Therefore, you might think that soccer players are faster in general. But given that we’re talking about a fraction of 1 mph, it’s too close to call to call one sport faster than the other!
Which soccer positions require the fastest players?
In modern soccer, speed is required in all areas of the pitch (excluding the goalkeeper). The way that modern fullbacks play means that they’re required to bomb up and down the pitch at incredible speeds.
Equally, central defenders are required to show a good turn of pace so that strikers don’t run away from them and bear down on goal!
Speed is also necessary for midfielders, wingers, and strikers, meaning that being fast is an excellent attribute for any soccer player, no matter their position. To exemplify this point, let’s take a look at the five fastest soccer players and consider their positions.
The five fastest soccer players in the world
Alphonso Davies – FC Bayern (22.69 mph)
Canadian superstar Alphonso Davies is so fast that his teammates have nicknamed him roadrunner! He racks up incredible speeds on the soccer pitch and is utilized by his club and national team as a flying fullback.
In the Bundesliga, Davies is regarded as one of the most creative and important players, and he is widely coveted by the biggest teams in European football.
If you’ve never watched him play, check Davies’ remarkable speed out on YouTube, and you won’t be disappointed!
Achraf Hakimi – PSG (22.67 mph)
Moroccan fullback Achraf Hakimi moved from Borussia Dortmund to PSG in a deal worth $83 million. Not only were PSG getting a solid fullback, but they were also signing one of the peachiest soccer players on the planet.
Although not as attacking as Alphonso Davies, Hakimi is known for his offensive abilities and is involved in a lot of the good work that PSG do in the attacking areas of the pitch.
Given their incredible top speeds, it would be amazing to watch a foot race between Davies and Hakimi!
Adama Traore – Barcelona (22.61 mph)
Arguably the most explosive footballer in the world, Adama Traore recently signed for Barcelona after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EPL.
One thing that lets Traore down is his end product, as his crosses and finishing leave a lot to be desired!
Still, as a pacy fullback or winger, Barcelona fans are excited about what he will bring to the team as they continue their transition under head coach Xavi Hernandez.
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United (22.55 mph)
Although he has struggled for form and consistency over the last season or so, Marcus Rashford is one of the most dangerous attacking players in the EPL on his day.
When used correctly by his manager, Rashford can break in behind the opposing defense and cause all sorts of problems, which more often than not results in a goal for United.
Some fans are wondering how long Rashford will stay at Man Utd and would love nothing more than to see his pace alongside the likes of Mbappe and Neymar at PSG.
Kylian Mbappe – PSG (22.42 mph)
Dubbed by many as the most exciting soccer player on the planet, Kylian Mbappe is an explosive winger/striker who scores for fun in the French league.
His contract is up in the summer of 2022, and many in European soccer are suggesting that Mbappe will sign for Real Madrid.
If he does, Los Blancos will have a serious player on their hands and may be able to challenge for the UEFA Champions League once again.
Is pace more important in soccer than American football?
There’s no doubt that pace is extremely important in both sports. Wide receivers in the NFL rack up incredible speeds on their way to TDs that regularly exceed the 20mph mark.
One of the reasons that you don’t see American football players consistently run faster than this is because of the number of barriers in their way.
They have to avoid tackles, stay onside, and often don’t get the chance to run without interruption until they rack up top speeds.
In soccer, there are, of course, barriers too, but players have more chance of sprinting at top speeds unchecked, particularly when their team is on the counter-attack.
As such, there’s no doubt that speed is an incredibly important aspect of both soccer and American football, and the teams with the fastest players often do really well.
The verdict: Soccer or American football players – who are faster?
While the statistics show that soccer players might be slightly faster than American football players, it really is too close to call.
We’re talking about fractions of 1mph, which really isn’t worth arguing about!
Given the fact that it’s harder for American football players to run long distances without restriction, this needs to be taken into account.
Overall, with top speeds at just over 22 mph, both soccer and American football players are extremely fast!