10 instances of footballers bursting into lightning speed

Football may not be a sport that is all about speed and momentum but tell that to the team who lack a fast athlete in their roster. Speed enables teams to counter-attack, and that leads to goals when it is least expected. And, it is just not about the run that fascinates fans, but also how an attribute such as speed can set a player apart from the ordinary footballers.The names such as Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben, Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Damm are who you can call the fastest in the game right now, especially Damm, the 22-year-old star from Mexican club Pachuca who was apparently the second fastest player in the world, second to Real Madrid’s Bale at one point.In this slideshow, we bring you 10 clips of footballers (in no particular order) bursting into, if I may, lightning speed! May the force be with them.

#1 Carlos Tevez

At Juventus, Carlos Tevez’s level of football had just been a tad bit better, higher and productive. The same player, who was constantly in the news in Britain for his scandals, was even the leading goal scorer in Italy at one point.

This goal is a pure epitome of Tevez’s blistering pace that can leave defenders of the highest quality amazed as he did against the Parma defenders during Juventus’ 7-0 win last season.

When asked about the goal in a post-match interview with Sky Sports Italia, the Argentinean forward said, “I knew that I just had to free myself from my marker. Then I just had to win another one-on-one and shift the ball to the right.”

“I knew which way to send it past the goalkeeper because I was coming so fast at him that he had no chance of diving. It was all planned,” added Tevez.

Fast. Agonisingly fast.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Friendlies or not, the level of football that Cristiano Ronaldo manages to maintain is phenomenal. His performance against Fiorentina in the pre-season friendly was a proof of the menace the three-time Ballon d’Or winner can cause to teams in a fraction of seconds.

Real Madrid might have ended up on the losing side, but Ronaldo’s performance was one to remember.

#3 Jurgen Damm

Jurgen Damm is considered as one of the most promising players who is currently playing the Mexican Premier League, and recently made his senior team debut for the Mexican national team. He could be the second fastest player according to the statistics, but how fast is he really?

Bale has been recorded to have clocked a high speed of 36.9 km per hour with the ball at his feet, followed by Damm almost catching up with the Welshman’s speeding prowess with 35.25 km per hour.

Here’s a look at his speed.

#4 Arjen Robben

Speaking of speed, Arjen Robben, on his good day, can be better with the ball than any other player on the planet, and such was the day when the Spanish national team was crushed by Netherlands with a humiliating 5-1 defeat.

It wasn't the number of goals that hurt the Spanish ego, but the manner in which they were scored in, especially Robben's fifth. The Bayern Munich winger clocked a remarkable speed of 37kph with the ball in the process of scoring his goal, leaving defender Sergio Ramos who was chasing Robben at a speed of 30kph.

#5 Thierry Henry

Roberto Carlos was a man who was fast. He was a man who could run and you know, keep running. And, so was Thierry Henry. The battle between the two whenever France and Brazil played against one another was something to watch out for as it was indeed the battle of the two top speedsters in the game back then.

Here’s one instance when the French striker beat Carlos and his Brazilian teammate with his amazing pace.

#6 Mohamed Salah

Since his move away from Chelsea, Mohamed Salah’s form has definitely been on the rise, and only when he is performing at the highest level, you recognise the ability that the Egyptian winger possess.

His brilliant run that came up against AS Roma in the second leg of Fiorentina’s Europa League tie last season as he started his run deep inside Fiorentina’s own half, and sprinted the length of the pitch, moving past the defence, before cutting in on his left foot to unleash a shot which hit the bar.

#7 Gareth Bale

You know it is a great goal when it gives birth to a whole new meme.. Bartra is still running!

It was the winning goal that Real Madrid needed in the Copa del Rey final of the 13/14 season, and boy did Bale deliver. With a 50-metre fast, paced sprint, the Welsh winger beat Bartra by quite a margin in terms of speed and slotted the ball past keeper Pinto in the 87th minute of the match.

Talk about proving your worth to your team.

#8 Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott’s assist for Emmanuel Adebayor in the second leg of the 2008 Champions League quarter-finals at Anfield was voted as the greatest assist by a Gunner by the club’s official website back in 2010, and it deserved every bit of the attention.

With Arsenal 2-1 down, Walcott picked up the loose ball close to their own box and went on to dribble past four Liverpool defenders, setting up an easy chance for striker Emmanuel Adebayor who successfully converted it into a goal.

#9 DeAndre Yedlin

Spurs’ DeAndre Yedlin is fast for a defender, but it was during Seattle Sounders’ win at the US Open Cup Final against Philadelphia Union last year when the 21-year-old right back showed his true colours.

After losing out on the ball following some poor touch, Yedlin did more than just well to recover the ball back from Philadelphia’s midfielder Cristian Maidana after chasing down a distance that would seem impossible to cover for even the fastest of players.

#10 Raphael Varane

It was Raphael Varane’s sprint against Atletico Madrid in Real Madrid’s first leg tie in the Champions League that motivated me to compile this list. The 21-year-old is relatively faster than a usual defender because of his solid physical build, but dribbling past defenders in this fashion is definitely what no one saw coming.

After picking up the ball up just outside his own box following a poor set-piece routine by Atletico Madrid, Varane nearly helped Real Madrid find a breakthrough goal after setting up a great ball for teammate Karim Benzema.