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This year's UEFA Champions League matches have already given us plenty of drama. From Kylian Mbappe's masterclass against Barcelona to Erling Haaland's clinical finishing, football stars have really put their best foot forward on big occasions.
While goals, tricks, skills, brilliant tackles and saves can all get fans off their feet, there is nothing quite like sheer speed to pump up adrenaline for the fans. Watching players make lung bursting sprints to score goals or make last-ditch recovery tackles often leads us to the question as to who the fastest player on the pitch is.
Without much ado, let us take a look at the:
5 fastest players in the UEFA Champions League this season (2020/21)
Note: Only stats from this year's Champions League matches have been taken. Player sprints in domestic league/cup competitions have not been considered.
#5 Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla) - 33.1 km/h
Sevilla's talisman and forward, Youssef En-Nesyri, comes in at number 5 with his sprint speed reaching a top speed of 33.1 km/h in the UEFA Champions League this season.
The Moroccan forward has been in fine form, scoring plenty of goals in both the league as well as Europe. With 4 goals in 7 games so far, En-Nesyri is undoubtedly one of Sevilla's most potent attacking threats.
Blessed with incredible speed and clinical finishing skills, the 23-year-old forward is finally starting to fulfill his vast potential. Sevilla will be hoping that the pacy Moroccan inspires their team to a comeback victory against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg.
#4 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - 33.1 km/h
Paris Saint-Germain's boy wonder Kylian Mbappe is clearly one of the fastest players in world football right now. Known for his electric pace and stunning finishing, the Frenchman put Barcelona to the sword with a stunning hat-trick at the Camp Nou.
Tipped to win a Ballon d'Or in the future, Mbappe continues to go from strength to strength. Still only 22, the Frenchman has time to hone his skills even more and is truly a generational talent.
Rio Ferdinand was eloquent in his praise after Mbappe's stunning performance against Barcelona. Tipping the Frenchman to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the future, Ferdinand, speaking to BT Sport, said:
"This guy will take over the throne from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo one day. This is a statement from Mbappe. Mbappe is on his own, out of the young players, he's on his own. He's won the World Cup and been immense in the Champions League."
#3 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 33.3 km/h
Liverpool might be going through a rough patch of form at the moment but Mohamed Salah has shown no signs of slowing down. The 'Egyptian King' has been in fine form and has shouldered Liverpool's goalscoring responsibilities in the last few weeks.
While Salah has a magical left boot, his pace and speed also gives him a distinct advantage and allows him to make extremely threatening runs in behind the opposition defense.
Salah's speed caused RB Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann plenty of problems throughout the first leg. Klostermann, who is no slouch himself (30.2 km/h), struggled to keep up with the pacy Liverpool superstar throughout the match.
Mohamed Salah will have to continue firing and scoring goals if Liverpool are to progress further in the UEFA Champions League this season.
#2 Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) - 34 km/h
Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele has finally started to play more regularly this season after having a torrid time with injuries. The Frenchman, when in form, is one of the most talented players on the Barcelona roster and Ronald Koeman will be hoping to get the best out of the mercurial forward.
Technically gifted and blessed with extraordinary dribbling skills, Dembele also has pace to burn as can be evidenced from the 34 km/h top speed he has hit in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Once considered to be one of the foremost talents in French football, Dembele has seen his stock fall because of constantly being injured. Still only 23, the Barcelona forward has time to rediscover his best form and prove all the doubters wrong.
#1 Hans Hateboer (Atalanta) - 34.1 km/h
Perhaps surprisingly at the top of this list, Hans Hateboer is currently the fastest player in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Atalanta wing back is also one of the most hardworking players, having covered an incredible 64.4 km in just 6 games.
Integral to Atalanta's expansive style of play, Hateboer's speed and endurance allows him to join in attacks and also make excellent recovery runs to thwart the opposition attackers.
With Atalanta up against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Hateboer will have his work cut out and will need to use every last bit of his electric pace to keep Los Blancos in check.
Note: All stats are taken from UEFA.com
Top Speeds of some other famous players in this year's UEFA Champions League:
Cristiano Ronaldo - 29.5 km/h
Lionel Messi - 28.6 Km/h
Neymar - 32 km/h
Erling Haaland - 31 Km/h
Sadio Mane - 30.4 Km/h
