The Fastest Soccer Kicks Ever

Power isn’t everything in soccer, but it sure does help if you want to blast the ball into the back of the net from distance. There is no official world record for the fastest ever soccer kick by a human, but there are a few facts and figures out there. Prepare to be dazzled by the some of the fastest, hardest and most totally blasted soccer shots in the history of the game...

The World’s Fastest and Hardest Soccer Kicks

In February 2007, James Dart and Paolo Bandini compiled a list of the top 10 fastest soccer kicks of all time. The list isn’t perfect, and it’s certainly not complete, but it is the best list I’ve ever seen. You can see the whole article at the Guardian.co.uk website or check out the stats below:

1. David Hirst – 114 mph. English striker David Hirst struck this thunderbolt on September 16 1996. He was playing for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal when he blasted the ball towards goal from a distance of 14.8 yards. It might not look all that fast the first time you see it, but watch it a few times – you can barely see the ball move! Surprisingly, the goal itself remained standing...
2. David Beckham – 97.9 mph. Beckham launched this rocket while playing for Manchester United against Chelsea in February 1997. 
3. David Trezeguet – 96 mph. Struck in 1998 while the French forward was playing for Monaco against Manchester United in March 1998.
4. Richie Humphreys – 95.9 mph. Another Englishmen, Humphreys makes the list with a shot for Sheffield Wednesday against Aston Villa in August 1996. 
5. Matthew Le Tissier – 86.8 mph. Le Tissier was an unconventional but hugely talented soccer player. Southampton fans call him “Le God.” Shot taken for Southampton against Newcastle in January 1997. 
6. Alan Shearer – 85.8 mph. Shearer was always known for his physical strength and powerful shooting. He struck this howitzer for Newcastle against Leicester in February 1997.
7. Roberto Carlos – 85.2 mph. Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos has taken some of the most spectacular (and powerful) free kicks of all time.  He hit this one while playing for Brazil against France in June 1997. 
8. Tugay – 84.2 mph. Tugay, a Turkish midfield playmaker, blasted the ball for Blackburn against Southampton in November 2001. 
9. Obafemi Martins – 84 mph. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins hit this shot while playing for Newcastle against Tottenham in January 2007. 
10. David Beckham – 80.5 mph. The only player to make it onto the list twice, Beckham bent this one for Manchester United against Derby in September 1996.

Soccer Rockets versus the Baseball Pitch

So who’s fastest: the soccer players or the baseball pitchers? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Lynn Nolan Ryan pitched the fastest ever baseball in August 1974 – it was recorded at 100.9 mph, a full 13 miles per hour slower than soccer’s fastest kick.

Do you know of any other soccer rockets that should be on this list? If you do, feel free to add them in the comments box below.