Mbappe tops World Cup speed charts as Haaland features in elite list

Kylian Mbappe has been confirmed as the fastest player at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, capping a tournament in which he also finished as top scorer and became the competition’s all-time leading marksman.

The France forward recorded the highest speed of any player at the finals, clocking 37.61km/h to head an official list of the quickest runners at the tournament. Sweden’s Anthony Elanga ranked second with a top speed of 37.16km/h, while Netherlands defender Micky van de Ven was third at 36.77km/h.

Mbappe’s standout physical numbers came despite France falling short of the title. Didier Deschamps’ side were beaten 2-0 by Spain in the semi-finals, with the eventual champions going on to defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres.

Golden Boot and all‐time record for Mbappe

Across the tournament, Mbappe produced a series of impressive individual displays, finishing as the World Cup’s leading scorer with 10 goals.

That haul allowed the 25-year-old to overtake Argentina forward Lionel Messi as the competition’s most prolific player in history. Mbappe’s overall World Cup tally now stands at 22 goals, surpassing the total set by Messi.

France were unable to end their campaign on a high note, however. They lost an open and high-scoring third-place play-off against England, going down 6-4. Even so, Mbappe’s performances ensured he topped not only the goalscoring standings but also the rankings for peak speed.

French trio among quickest 10 players

The speed data underlined the athletic profile of the France squad, with three of Deschamps’ players featuring in the top 10.

Alongside Mbappe in first place, Bradley Barcola was recorded at 36.32km/h, placing him seventh overall. Theo Hernandez also made the list, taking ninth spot with a top speed of 36.17km/h.

Their inclusion means France supplied more players to the top 10 than any other nation in the rankings.

Haaland stands out as Bos leads the chasing pack

Australia’s Jordan Bos occupied fourth position with a maximum speed of 36.67km/h after his performances at the tournament.

Erling Haaland, representing Norway and playing his club football for Manchester City, also featured prominently. The striker was measured at 36.52km/h, earning him fifth place on the list and underlining his status as one of the most powerful and explosive forwards in the game.

The final top‐speed table is headed by Mbappe, followed by Elanga, Van de Ven, Bos and Haaland, with Barcola and Hernandez further underlining France’s pace by joining their captain among the ten fastest players at the World Cup.