The CIES Football Observatory is pleased to present the exclusive Gradient data on running speeds of players from teams still competing in the UEFA Champions League. The 534th Weekly Post displays the 20 fastest players (maximum speed in the competition) for five position categories, as well as the distribution of their distances per speed.
Uzbekistan's Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City) is the centre back with the highest top speed (35.8 km/h), ahead of Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. Among wide backs, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi (36.4 km/h) and Nuno Mendes top the list, as does Archie Gray (34.8 km/h) for central midfielders, Anthony Gordon (37.9 km/h) for side midfielders/wingers, and Kylian Mbappé for centre forwards (35.7 km/h).
In terms of the distribution per speed category, among the 100 players listed, three centre forwards covered the greatest proportion of distance at a speed of less than 7 km/h: Kylian Mbappé (43.5%), Victor Osimhen (41.9%), and Luis Suárez (40.1%). In contrast, the three players who covered the lowest percentage of distance walking are central midfielders: Häkon Evjen (23.0%), João Simões (24.1%) and Lucas Bergvall (25.2%).
More information on Gradient here.
Highest top speed (km/h)
Champions League 2025/26, league stage, teams still in contention (17/02)