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Pace is not exactly a primary attribute for midfielders. They need to have sound technique and great positional and spatial awareness. Midfielders need to have good vision too in order to orchestrate play.
Their job is to navigate the tight spaces in midfield and pace doesn't exactly become a factor unless they are breaking on the counter or have space to run into. But it is obviously a great auxiliary attribute to possess. While agility helps them wriggle out of tight spaces, pace can help them leave defenders stranded.
Box-to-box midfielders benefit from having a lot of speed and bursts of pace since they have to stir their stumps throughout games. Ranking midfielders on the basis of pace is not very common but we're going to take a shot at it today.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five fastest midfielders in the world right now.
#5 Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid)
The jury is still out on whether Thomas Lemar has been a great signing for Atletico Madrid. He possesses great technique which enables him to play in multiple positions. The Frenchman's versatility allows him to play on either wing as well as down the centre.
Lemar can also pass and shoot with both feet and is a set-piece specialist as well. The 25-year-old had a rather underwhelming 2020-21 campaign in terms of numbers, but his influence cannot be overlooked. In 36 appearances across all competitions for the Rojiblancos, Lemar scored two goals and provided five assists.
But when he is in the mood, Lemar is an excellent player. He is a wonderful dribbler and can turn on the afterburners once he gets past defenders. Lemar is one of the fastest midfielders in the world.
#4 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is a relentless presence on the football pitch. There are hardly any midfielders in the world who can match the ball-winning abilities of the tenacious Frenchman. His running is one of his most praiseworthy attributes but he is quite tactically intelligent and technically proficient as well.
Kante turned in four back-to-back man-of-the-match performances in the UEFA Champions League last season as Chelsea secured continental glory. The 30-year-old is difficult to get past and even harder to shirk off.
Kante is also an excellent ball-carrier and his pace aids him in that aspect of his game. He is one of the best central midfielders in the game right now and is one of the most admired football players on the planet.
#3 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Manchester City youngster Phil Foden is one of the most promising midfielders on the planet. His deft touches, excellent passing range and vision make him one of the most technically adept midfielders in the Premier League.
Foden also packs a lot of pace which enables him to play as a winger as well. He started down the right flank for England at the recently concluded Euro 2020 and that was only possible due to his speed and acceleration on the ball.
Foden clocked a top speed of 23.07 mph in a Premier League game against Aston Villa in the 2019-20 season. He has kept it up and still possesses that explosive pace which allows him to flit past opposition players in the blink of an eye.
#2 Renato Sanches (Lille)
Renato Sanches is just 24-years-old but has already seen a lot of ups and downs in his career. After securing a big move to Bayern Munich following a great outing at Euro 2016, he failed to make a mark. An extremely underwhelming loan stint with Swansea City didn't help his credentials.
But Sanches has become an influential player for Lille and he was a creative force in midfield as they pipped Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title. He is a well-rounded midfielder whose defensive and offensive aspects of his game are quite refined.
Sanches was a standout performer for Portugal at Euro 2020. His dribbling ability coupled with his pace makes him an excellent all-action midfielder. Sanches has been likened to midfield greats like Clarence Seedorf and Edgard Davids.
#1 Rafa Silva (Benfica)
Rafael Silva is arguably the quickest midfielder in Europe. His blistering pace and quick feet enables him to play as an attacking midfielder as well as a winger. Silva is an excellent dribbler as well and showcases wonderful close control.
Rafa Silva's dancing feet and acceleration in short spaces make him a huge threat on counter attacks. The 28-year-old is an intelligent campaigner with great spatial awareness and vision. Benfica benefits a lot from his smart runs into pockets of space in and around the final third.
In 45 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season, the Portuguese international scored nine goals and provided 10 assists.
