Who are the quickest players in Spanish football? We look at these 10 La Liga speedsters...
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Spain is blessed with many speed demons who easily outstrip opponents for pace
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The quickest is only fractionally slower than a professional sprinter
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Blink and you’ll miss this explosive ten, the fastest in La Liga
Fastest Players In La Liga 2024
The fastest players in La Liga are some of the quickest in world football. Don’t be fooled by Spanish football’s reputation for a slower pace of play.
Yes, it’s not quite as breakneck as the Premier League or Bundesliga, but there are still some true speedsters featuring in La Liga betting every week.
While the teams at the top of La Liga odds are predictable each year, there has been considerable player turnover since the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Fresh faces and young legs are powering both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
There are numerous exciting talents throughout the Spanish topflight, too. Here are the fastest La Liga players in 2023-24, courtesy of Samba Foot…
Alberto Moreno
He might be into his thirties, but Alberto Moreno remains one of the fastest players in La Liga. According to Samba Foot, Moreno has the 10th-fastest sprint speed in 2023-24.
It’s inevitable players will slow as they age, and Moreno is no exception. During his peak, he was electric down the left-hand side. He might have lost half a yard, but he’s still doing a solid job for Villarreal when required.
Dodi Lukebakio
Signed by Sevilla from Hertha Berlin last summer, Dodi Lukebakio has not enjoyed the best start to his La Liga career.
The Belgian’s statistical profile only shows him to be above average when it comes to taking players on – the end product has been lacking, with just three goal contributions in 8.2 90s.
After 17 goal contributions for Hertha last term, there will be hope that Lukebakio can get back on track, even if his numbers were inflated by penalty-taking duties.
Thierry Correira
Right-back Thierry Correira is into his fourth season as a regular starter for Valencia. Posting excellent defensive metrics across the board, Correira uses his pace well.
FB Reference names Nelson Semedo and Tyrick Mitchell as two comparisons for Correira. He is a solid full-back for a Valencia team looking settled in mid-table.
Savinho
On loan at surprise story Girona from Troyes, Savinho (or Savio) has excelled in his debut La Liga campaign. With 12 goal involvements in 22 starts, the 19-year-old Brazilian is one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.
He uses his pace on and off the ball, ranking in the 88th percentile in progressive carries at his position and the 92nd percentile in progressive passes received.
Girona’s title challenge might have been derailed, but Savinho remains appointment viewing for the rest of the campaign.
Marvin Park
On loan at Las Palmas from Real Madrid, Marvin Park has been used on the right wing and as a right-back. He has primarily come off the bench, though he will hope to add to his nine league starts.
After starting just five times for Las Palmas in the Segunda Division last season, this has been a campaign of relative progress for Marvin thus far.
Only time will tell if he has a long-term future at Real Madrid – could he be their answer at right-back?
Samu Omorodion
Signed by Atletico Madrid from Granada in August, Samu Omorodion has made just one La Liga appearance for either of those teams.
Atleti promptly loaned Omorodion to Alaves last summer, where he has featured in 23 La Liga fixtures and scored eight goals.
Still only 19 years of age, the upside is abundantly clear. Omorodion enjoyed success with Granada’s B team, and will be looking to force his way into Atletico’s thinking for 2024-25.
Assane Diao
Omorodion is a grizzled veteran compared to Assane Diao. The Real Betis prospect was born in 2005(!), and has made 13 league starts at the time of writing.
Primarily playing on the right flank, Diao’s attacking contributions have been relatively limited, but some of that can be attributed to playing in a low-scoring Betis team.
Diao’s scorching pace will make him an asset for Los Verdiblancos for years to come. Look for those progressive carries and progressive passes received numbers to increase in the latter part of this decade.
Inaki Williams
He might be celebrating his 30th birthday in a few months, but Inaki Williams remains one of the quickest players in La Liga.
Unlike so many other speeders, Williams has been very durable throughout his career. The hamstrings have held up, and his pace is yet to markedly decline.
With 382 appearances for Athletic already, Williams could well finish in the top five if he stays fit.
There are no signs of his production dropping off either – he’s scored more goals in 22 starts this season than he did in three of the last four league seasons.
Andrei Ratiu
Romanian international Andrei Ratiu joined Rayo Vallecanco from Huesca last summer.
Ratiu has long been among the fastest full backs in the sport, and even with his team struggling, he has posted some impressive attacking numbers.
In the 84th percentile in progressive carries, Ratiu is a willing attacker and unafraid of a tackle. His decision-making could improve in the final third, but at 25 years old, there’s time to work on that.
Vinicius Jr.
Starring for one of the most successful football clubs in the world, Vinicius Jr. is arguably the fastest footballer on the planet. The prospect of pairing him Kylian Mbappe next season will give defenders nightmares across Europe.
While the bar is very high to earn inclusion in our all-time La Liga XI, Vinicius is on a trajectory that could at least get him into the conversation.
He’s a two-time league champion, a Champions League winner, and has 30-goal-a-season upside in the coming years. Still only 23 years old, the sky really is the limit for Vinicius.
Fastest La Liga Players 2023
Jules Kounde
Signed by Barcelona from Sevilla at the start of 2022-23, Jules Kounde became a La Liga champion in his first campaign under Xavi.
Still only 24 years old, Kounde has been talked about as one of the world’s best central defenders for a few seasons, and looks set for a lengthy stint at the Camp Nou.
Kounde’s pace is a real asset in a team which so often dominates possession like Barcelona - one of the richest football clubs in the world.
His ability to cover for mistakes and make blistering recovery runs when the opponent counters is crucial for Barcelona in 2023-24 if they are to defend their title and go on a Champions League run.
Nahuel Molina
Argentina international Nahuel Molina is comfortable playing anywhere down the right-hand side.
He has predominantly been a full-back since signing for Atletico Madrid during the 2022 summer, but has often proved to be a threat in the final third.
Molina started his career with Boca Juniors before a two-year stint in Italy with Udinese, and was part of the Argentina teams which won the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.
Angel Correa
Even into his late twenties, Angel Correa remains one of the fastest players in La Liga. The Argentine was used primarily as a substitute last season, but he still found the net nine times for Atletico Madrid.
Among forwards, Correa places in the 89th percentile in progressive carries per match over the last 365 days. His 1.31 successful take ons sit in the 81st percentile.
Diego Simeone still prefers Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann in the starting line up, meaning Correa is waiting on an injury to get a string of starts.
Eder Militao
Eder Militao is set to miss the majority of the 2023-24 season after suffering an ACL injury against Athletic Bilbao in August.
The Brazilian had become a regular at the heart of Real Madrid’s defence, starting 64 matches over the last two seasons, and delivering several impressive performances in the Champions League.
Players recover far better from ACL injuries than they used to. Militao is unlikely to see much of a loss of pace upon his return – Real will be hoping he can get back to full match fitness before the end of the campaign.
Rodrygo
Rodrygo had 17 goal contributions in La Liga last season, and will be looking to better that tally in 2023-24.
The 22-year-old is electric over short and long distances. He’s one of the most agile players in the game, capable of jinking past defenders at high speed.
It’s no surprise there’s a tonne of green on his FB Reference page.
Rodrygo has paired his one-on-one ability and pace with end product, making him a nightmare for opposition defences whether there’s space in behind or they’ve camped out in their own 18-yard box.
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid have carefully planned their midfield of the future as they look to replace three of the greatest midfielders in La Liga history.
Federico Valverde is one part of that plan, alongside Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Used in a variety of roles, Valverde is a willing ball carrier and works hard out of possession. His flexibility is useful in this Real Madrid setup as they usher in the next generation around Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Marcos Llorente
Jack-of-all trades Marcos Llorente is beginning his age-28 season and shows no signs of slowing down.
The Atletico Madrid man remains among La Liga’s fastest players, which is an asset whether he’s charging from box-to-box or slotting in on the right-hand side.
Llorente is a hard-worker whatever role he’s put in. That versatility is always helpful for a manager, and makes him a great squad player for Atletico.
Fran Garcia
After spending three seasons with Rayo Vallecano (one on loan, then two after a permanent deal), Fran Garcia returned to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 after Los Blancos triggered his buy-back clause.
An energetic left-back, Garcia earned his first Spain call-up days after he re-signed with Real. He debuted for the Bernabeu outfit in the season opener against Athletic Bilbao.
Ferland Mendy
Injuries have blighted Ferland Mendy’s time with Real Madrid since making the move from Lyon in 2019.
Mendy has made only 80 league starts across four seasons, and suffered another hamstring injury in preseason which has forced him to miss the opening weeks of 2023-24.
Now 28 years old, Real Madrid fans are still hoping they can see the best of Mendy at some stage. It has been a frustrating period for him, however, and Garcia’s return to the club creates competition for minutes at left-back.
Vinicius Jr
Bound to be a sports betting favourite for the Ballon d’Or in years to come, Vinicius Jr has been a sensation for Real Madrid over the last couple of seasons.
Vinicius’ pace played a major role in Real Madrid’s 2021-22 Champions League win, tormenting each defence they faced.
Despite only turning 23 in July, the Brazilian is already among the world’s best players. The coming years could well see Vinicius rival Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and others for the crown of ‘world’s best player’ in the post-Messi era.
Fastest La Liga Players 2022
La Liga is home to two of the most successful clubs in world football. Spanish football has been dominant in the club and international game over the last 15 years.
Beyond the big three, though, La Liga has plenty to offer. There is a depth of talent despite vast financial disparity between the big two and the rest.
It has been touch-and-go with the Premier League when weighing up the best leagues in Europe.
A specific element of La Liga is our focus here. Spanish football might be renowned for its technical prowess and a relatively slow pace of play, but it is the speedsters under the microscope.
These rankings are compiled using a mix of sprint speeds, the eye test and FIFA pace ratings.
Samuel Chukwueze
While not the biggest name in football betting online, Samuel Chukwueze has been an important squad player for a competitive Villarreal team over the last couple of seasons.
The Nigerian has pace to burn, with a rating just shy of 90 in FIFA 2023, and has been in fine form in 2022-23, averaging a goal contribution in La Liga every 164.3 minutes.
Chukwueze’s biggest moment came with his last-gasp equaliser against Bayern Munich in the 2021-22 Champions League. Still only 23 years old, he has time on his side to establish himself as a star with Villarreal.
Thierry Correira
Portuguese right-back Thierry Correira has a pace rating of 90 on FIFA 23. Correira has been a regular starter for Valencia this term, averaging 2.5 tackles and an interception per match.
He earned multiple caps with Portugal’s under-21s, but at 24 years old, he is yet to break into the senior squad.
Fouls have been an issue at times for Correira. His game is a work in progress at this stage, but that is hardly a surprise for a full-back with less than 100 senior appearances to his name.
Raphinha
Leeds fans are well aware of the pace Barcelona winger Raphinha possesses. After a messy transfer saga, which seemed to be taking the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge, Raphinha ended up at the Camp Nou.
He immediately became one of the fastest La Liga players, backed up by a pace of 91 on FIFA.
After some early struggles playing under Xavi, he found his best form when club football resumed after the World Cup, with a run of eight goal involvements in nine starts.
Ferland Mendy
Fitness issues have disrupted Ferland Mendy’s campaign, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to deploy Eduardo Camavinga at left-back.
Mendy, though, remains one of the fastest players in La Liga, which makes him an effective player at both ends of the pitch.
A willing ball carrier and pitch-stretching overlapper, Mendy’s sheer pace allows him to make hefty recovery runs. Very few wingers can beat him in a foot race.
Ousmane Dembele
After what looked destined to be a transfer defined by injury and unfulfilled potential, Ousmane Dembele made a break through in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign.
Dembele has been considered one of the quickest players in world football since bursting onto the scene a few years ago.
Injuries haven’t made the Frenchman any less nimble. He has begun to live up to the hype which reached a crescendo during his campaign with Borussia Dortmund.
Vinicius Jr
A foundational piece as Real Madrid topped La Liga odds in 2021-22, some might think this is a little low for the jet-paced Brazilian winger.
Vinicius Jr has blossomed into one of the best forwards on the planet, forming a prolific partnership with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
FIFA 23 tabs Vinicius as the fastest player in La Liga with a 95 pace rating, which also makes him one of the quickest players in the world. Ask any defender challenged with marking him and they would certainly agree with that evaluation.
Ruben Sobrino
Ruben Sobrino clocked a sprint speed north of 35 kilometres per hour in 2021-22, making him one of the fastest players in La Liga.
The 30-year-old isn’t exactly quick on FIFA, nor has he been scoring at an impressive rate this term, but the sprint speeds don’t lie.
Sobrino started out at the Real Madrid academy, but couldn’t make the first team. He had a brief stint and a couple of loans out from Manchester City before permanent spells with Alaves and Valencia prior to joining Cadiz in 2021.
Joseph Aidoo
Central defenders often rank better than you might think for their top speeds.
Ghanian Joseph Aidoo falls into that category with the third-best sprint speed in La Liga in 2021-22 despite just a 75 pace rating on FIFA 23.
Aidoo has been at Celta since 2019, passing 100 appearances for the club, after spending a couple of seasons with Genk. He made the Ghana squad for the 2022 World Cup, but was an unused substitute in all three group fixtures.
Alvaro Garcia
FIFA 23 awards just four La Liga players with a better pace rating than Alvaro Garcia.
He was, however, tied for the quickest sprint speed in the 2021-22 campaign. Garcia is into his thirties, but yet to markedly slow down.
The Rayo Vallecano left winger is on his way to matching his tally of 11 goal involvements from last season.
The Utrera native has been something of a journeyman throughout his career, with this spell at Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas being the longest period he has spent at one club.
Inaki Williams
Owner of La Liga’s joint-top sprint speed last season, Inaki Williams has long been one of the quickest players in world football.
Evolving from primarily being a winger to playing most of his matches down the middle, Athletic staved off interest from wealthier clubs earlier in Williams’ career.
At 28, Williams seems to have peaked. His production is not what some envisaged for him, but he remains an important player for his club, and became a Ghana international in 2022 after reportedly rejecting previous approaches from the Black Stars.
Fastest La Liga Players 2021
Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla)
Awarded with a very respectable 90 for pace on FIFA, and an acceleration rating of 94, the lightning-quick Argentine breaks into our top ten on merit.
Bustling through the centre for Los Nervionenses – usually as an attacking midfielder, but sometimes as a second striker – Gomez’s assist stats may have dried up in Spain after previously breaking records for Atalanta, but he remains a potent and rapid threat.
Now a seasoned 34, can we expect him to drop off this list next year when age begins to have an inevitable impact?
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Joint-eighth feels somewhat surprising for a winger who routinely whizzes down the Bernabeu left at a tremendous lick.
Still, a recorded best of 35.1 km/h will typically leave a full-back trailing and flailing and this we see often from the Brazilian speed demon since taking his game to a whole other level last season.
Seventeen goals and 13 assists in the league alone was a phenomenal return in 2021/22 for a player who had previously come attached with doubts, while his devastating partnership with Karim Benzema is just one reason why our La Liga odds have Real Madrid as hot favourites to win the title again.
Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
It’s interesting to note that Dembele exactly ties with Vinicius in the speed stakes given that his wing-play is no longer so reliant on searing pace.
Since overcoming a string of serious injuries, the two-footed 25-year-old has exhibited a more complete skill-set, beating players via game-intelligence and clever movement, and the benefits of this were there for all to see last term with a resounding 13 assists for the Blaugrana.
In 2017, Dembele was the subject of one of the biggest La Liga transfers ever when Barca swooped for the eye-watering sum of €145m, taking the young prodigy from Dortmund, but a contract dispute temporarily leaves him a free agent.
Will the French star remain in Catalonia, or might the Premier League see close-at-hand this all-round talent with pace to burn?
Johan Mojica (Elche)
A La Liga high of 35.2 km/h is testament to the Colombian left-back’s athleticism, not to mention it being a valuable asset should he ever lose possession or find himself out of position.
Mojica was one of Elche’s best and most consistent performers in 2021/22 and it frankly surprises that his career has never hit the heights.
A skilled full-back who can out-run a hare is a priceless commodity in the modern era.
Sandro Ramirez (Huesca)
Technically-speaking, the former Everton flop is not a La Liga player at present, as Getafe deliberate on whether to take up their option to buy after loaning the 26-year-old from Huesca for all of last season.
Just three goals in 29 appearances hardly constitutes a prolific return even if Sandro is adept at darting into the channels and holding up play, both of which are useful attributes for a struggling club like Getafe.
Regardless, he is far more likely to miss his chances in the top-flight next term than to ply his trade in the second tier.
In summary, there is little danger of the 26-year-old striker ever breaking into our La Liga greatest XI but he sure can peg it.
Rafa Mir (Sevilla)
The towering forward reached double figures for the third time in his career last season and played an integral part in Sevilla briefly threatening to claim a far-fetched title.
Add into the mix a hat-trick for Spain during last year’s Olympics and it all amounts to a welcome career spike for a striker who seemed forever destined to flit from club to club on loan, never disappointing, but also never really establishing himself.
A 35.3 km/h sprint clocked in early 2021 is proof too that the boy can zoom with the best of them.
Aitor Ruibal Garcia (Real Betis)
The Green-and-Whites enjoyed a memorable campaign in 2021/22, finishing fifth under Manuel Pellegrini, and their jet-heeled winger played his part, even if more times than not his contribution came from the bench.
After enduring long periods out on loan, Aitor is finally starting to include end product to his whirlwind escapades down the right and he is all the better player for it.
Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Llorente’s eye for a pass and exquisite first touch has added a great deal to Atleti’s midfield since moving across the city from Real back in 2019.
All the same, given his eruptive turn of foot it’s astounding that Diego Simeone so rarely deploys his versatile star wide on the right as he occasionally does. All the better to utilise a burst of pace that’s been known to nudge 35.4 km/h.
By his usual standards, last season was fairly unremarkable for the Spanish international and the same can certainly be said of his team too, with the title-holders relinquishing their crown far too easily.
Our La Liga predictions tip better fortunes for the Colchoneros in the months to come and no doubt that will apply also to Llorente.
Thierry Correia (Valencia)
The Portuguese right-back missed large chunks of last season through injury but what’s the betting he returns in 2022/23 as speedy and as industrious as ever?
Still to receive a full international cap, the former Sporting star tends to slip under the radar when plaudits are dished out and that feels unfair because when he’s in full flight Correia is a sight to behold.
A personal best of 35.6 km/h is fast enough to get the 23-year-old out of trouble defensively. When further advanced down the Mestalla right, it gets bums off seats.
Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
The dribbling speedster can play anywhere across the front three but largely deployed centrally by Bilbao last term his explosive qualities again came to the fore, with Williams – not for the first time - finishing as the Lions’ top scorer.
Six assists thrown in for good measure further illustrate his worth.
His semi-ridiculous 35.7 km/h was taken way back in 2020 but anyone who has witnessed his lively showings this past year will know he’s still blink-and-you’ll-miss-him quick.
It’s not as if either, that injury has slowed down the Spaniard. Last April, Williams made headlines globally for breaking a La Liga record by playing in his 227th consecutive game.
