Kylian Mbappe's Speed Compared to NFL's Fastest and Other Athletes
Speed might not be everything in soccer, but it ranks high, especially when many players struggle to keep up with the quick ones. Among this year's World Cup stars, Kylian Mbappe stands out as one of the fastest players in the sport's history.
The late boxing legend Muhammad Ali once said Mbappe is fast enough to "turn off the light switch" and beat the darkness to his bed. Watching him on the field is a spectacle; he charges after loose balls and races toward goal before firing shots that often leave the goalkeeper behind.
Top Speed at the 2026 World Cup
Mbappe reached a peak speed of 37.6 km/h (about 23.4 mph) during the tournament, the highest recorded among players there. This speed surpasses runners-up Achraf Hakimi and Erling Haaland by about 2 km/h.
One moment that showed off Mbappe's pace came in France’s 2-0 quarter-final win against Morocco. After a turnover, he sprinted past defenders so quickly that Noussair Mazraoui had to foul him inside the box, earning France a penalty.
PENALTY AWARDED TO FRANCE 🇫🇷 — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 9, 2026
Mbappe’s Sprint Compared to NFL 40-Yard Dash Times
It’s tricky to translate Mbappe’s top speed across a wide soccer field to the 40-yard dash, which is a short burst event favored in American football scouting. Trainer Gareth Sandford analyzed his 2022-23 Champions League season sprint data and found Mbappe maxed out at 10.19 meters per second, about two meters per second slower than Usain Bolt’s record pace.
Sandford noted Mbappe’s speed resembles that of 800-meter runners rather than 100-meter sprinters. Still, Mbappe’s quickness compares closely with NFL star Tyreek Hill, who clocked 23.24 mph in his 40-yard dash in 2017. While Mbappe may not match the fastest NFL dashers like John Ross or Xavier Worthy, he’d probably do well if he tried.
Historical Speed Records
Back in 2019, Mbappe reached a top speed of 38 km/h (23.6 mph) during a match against AS Monaco. This makes him one of the fastest soccer players ever recorded, according to sources like Sports Illustrated, Tuko, and Zonal Sports.
