Which Player Recorded the Fastest Shot in Football?

Ronny Heberson recorded the fastest shot in football history. Heberson recorded a shot so fast, it topped two hundred kilometres per hour. The fastest shots in football are from a mixture of legends and journeymen, FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship (EUROS) winners. Arjen Robben, Ronaldo Koeman, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Alan Shearer are some of the famous footballers to unleash unstoppable strikes. 

These players almost broke the speedometer, hitting shots that flew faster than one hundred and fifty kilometres per hour (km/h) past despairing goalkeepers. A famous Brazilian defender’s free-kick also makes SportsBoom’s list of fastest shots in football history. Surprisingly, some of the most notorious hardest hitters of a football are not on this exclusive list.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the best striker in history, is missing. Ronaldo’s howitzer for Manchester United against FC Porto in the 2008/09 Champions League season – for which he won the 2009 FIFA Puskás Award – did not enter the top 20 fastest shots in football history list. Robin van Persie, Zinedin Zidane, Maradona, and original Ronaldo all had wonderful technique, and scored some sublime volleys throughout their careers, which almost broke the back of the net. 

Image Credits: Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images

There is no room for English Premier League and Liverpool Football Club legend Steven Gerrard. Gerrard scored a multitude of career rockets from outside the 18-yard area. An anthology of his wonder strikes fills a two-and-a-half-minute YouTube video compilation. He had one of the most ferocious boots around. 

The list of momentous strikes from the Reds’ adored former captain is long, including his stunning long-range rocket against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final, and the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final group game against Olympiakos at Anfield, which sent Liverpool on their way to a fifth UCL title. 

Everything Gerrard did, he did at pace, including getting sent off quicker than any Premier League player in history. But the scouser’s propensity for match-winning, era-defining, long-range strikes are immense. Here is SportsBoom’s list of the top 20 fastest shots in football history. Enjoy.

The 20 Players with the Fastest Shots in Football History

Many of these quickfire strikes came from players in the English Premier League. Still, there is also a free-kick rocket from a UEFA Champions League final and a pre-season friendly. There’s a thunderbolt from a teenager who only managed three more career goals after announcing himself to the Premier League in the mid-1990s, and a bullet from “Zlatan,” the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award winner.

20. Luis Chavez | Mexico v Saudi Arabia | November 30, 2022 (121.7 km/h) 

Luis Chavez’s powerful free-kick against Saudi Arabia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was recorded at a speed of 121.7 km/h. The goal helped Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Qatar. Mexico still missed the knockout stages of the World Cup because of a worse goal difference than Poland. 

19. David Beckham | Manchester United v Derby County | September 4, 1996 (129.6 km/h) 

David Beckham finds himself on the fastest shots list twice. Beckham collected the football on the halfway line. He drove forward without any pressure from the Derby County midfielders. As he powered forward, the Derby defenders backed off him. The United midfielder, still under no pressure and a sight on goal, steadied himself before lashing a glorious strike past the despairing goalkeeper. 

David Beckham//Getty Images

18. Obafemi Martins | Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United | January 14, 2007 (135 km/h) 

Nobody will forget Obafemi Martins’ tracer bullet for Newcastle against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in 2007. Martins picked up the ball inside Spurs’ half. He drove forward, playing a one-two with Kieron Dyer before launching a spectacular left-foot shot from outside the corner of 18-yard area. The ball flew past Paul Robinson, and into the top-right corner of the goals to level the scores. Martins, up to that point, had had another poor game. Newcastle could not hold off Spurs, losing 3-2, but the Nigerians goal will live long in the memory. 

17. Tugay Kerimoğlu | Southampton v Blackburn Rovers | November 3, 2001 (135.5 km/h)

Tugay Kerimoğlu is one of the best Türkiye players in history. Known simply as Tugay, the midfielder was not recognised for his scoring, more his tackling. He only scored 11 Premier League goals in 233 appearances for Blackburn. However, one of those strikes is one of the fastest shots of all time. Some intricate passing and moving from Rovers finished with one of the smoothest strikes of a football you’ll ever see. Tugay hit this first-time stunner from 30 yards out. The ball continued to rise even as it nestled in the top corner of the Southampton goalkeeper’s net. 

16. Roberto Carlos | France v Brazil | June 3, 1997 (138 km/h)

Roberto Carlos’ stunning long-range free-kick on the opening game of Le Tournoi against France in Lyon in 1997 is one of the most memorable and famous goals ever scored. Carlos was not only a great dead-ball specialist, but he was one of the quickest footballers. He defied the laws of physics when he blasted a bending howitzer past a gobsmacked Fabien Barthez from 33.13 metres out. 

15. Alan Shearer | Newcastle United v Leicester City | February 2, 1997 (138.1 km/h)

Alan Shearer bagged a 13-minute hat-trick, including a last-minute winner as Newcastle United fought back from 3-1 down to Leicester City in a classic English Premier League football match. This game was one of the few times Newcastle United were on the right side of a 4-3 scoreline thanks to the Magpies’ revered No. 9. Shearer would go on to become the highest scorer in Premier League history, netting 260 goals in 441 games.

14. Matt Le Tissier | Southampton v Newcastle United | January 18, 1997 (140 km/h)

Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier makes the list thanks to his 140 km/h strike against Newcastle United in the 1997 Premier League. Le Tissier’s last-minute equaliser almost broke the net. However, the Saints’ striker’s shot registered 10 km/h slower than Zlatan Ibrahimović.

13. Adriano | Internazionale v Fiorentina | March 20, 2005 (144 km/h)

When playing Internazionale, Adriano hit a ferocious shot against Fiorentina, which was recorded at 144 km/h. The Brazilian’s strike crashed off the cross bar and flew past him into the path of an astonished defender. Inter Milan still edge Fiorentina 3-2 in a memorable Serie A match. 

12. Zlatan Ibrahimović | PSG v Anderlecht | October 23, 2013 (150.1 km/h)

Zlatan Ibrahimović rifled a 150.1 km/h curling strike from 25 yards out for Paris Saint-Germain against Anderlecht in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League. ‘Zlatan’ loved an outrageous acrobatic volley. His 2013 overhead bicycle volley against England saw the Sweden legend pick up the Puskás Award. 

11. Tony Yeboah | Wimbledon v Leeds | September 23, 1995 (154km/h)

Tony Yeboah lit up the English Premier League at Leeds. Yeboah’s legendary volley against Liverpool has been voted one of the best Premier League goals of all time. He was the best African player to play in the EPL up to that point. He paved the way for Didier Drogba, Lucas Radebe, Mohamed Salah, and Co. The Ghanaian belted another scorcher for Wimbledon at Selhurst Park against Leeds United in a 4-2 win in London.

10. Richie Humphreys | Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa | August 17, 1996 (154.3 km/h)

Richie Humphreys scored his astonishing left-foot, spinning roundhouse volley against Aston Villa. His spinning-top 154.3 km/h strike is the tenth fastest recorded shot in football history. Humphreys, who was only 18-year-old, struck a memorable goal on the opening day of the 1996/97 English Premier League season. In a sly twist of fate, Humphreys’ goal was scored on the same matchday as David Beckham’s famous halfway-line goal against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. 

9. David Trezeguet | Manchester United v Monaco | March 18, 1998 (154.4 km/h)

A fresh-faced David Trezeguet, who would go on to win France the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament with the first-ever ‘Golden Goal’ in extra time against Italy, edges Yeboah and Humphreys, but not by much. In 1998, Trezeguet stunned Old Trafford with a thunderous strike – after a neat one-two in the build-up – from the edge of the 18-yard area to announce himself on the UEFA Champions League stage.

8. David Beckham | Manchester United v Chelsea | February 22, 1997 (155.9 km/h)

David Beckham was renowned for his bending free kicks and accurate crosses. He could also put his laces through the ball when offered the opportunity, as Chelsea found out. The United winger almost broke the crossbar with this rocket from close range. Beckham would go on to score one of the most incredible free kicks in football history against Greece at Old Trafford in 2001. 

7. Ibrahim Sangaré | PSV Eindhoven v ADO Den Haag | March 2, 2023 (170 km/h)

Ibrahim Sangaré entered Dutch folklore when he struck a screamer so blisteringly hot, it had his PSV Eindhoven manager Ruud van Nistelrooy holding his head in disbelief. The Ivorian unleashed the perfect rocket into the back of the net from 22 yards out. The Den Haag goalkeeper had no chance; he just stood and watched the ball fly past him and into the top corner. 

6. Frank Lampard | Chelsea v West Ham United | March 5, 2005 (177 km/h)

Frank Lampard was one of the best box-to-box midfielders in his prime. He had a penchant for scoring, especially on the biggest stage. Lampard was one of the best at arriving outside the big box to blast home the ball. On this occasion, the midfielder put Chelsea 2-1 up with a 30-yard rifle against his former club West Ham United. Chelsea went on to win 4-1. José Mourinho’s built one of the most complete teams in the EPL, a team that would claim their first top-division title in 50 years that season. 

Chelsea's Captain Frank Lampard//Getty Images

5. David Hirst | Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday | September 16, 1996 (183 km/h)

David Hirst is another Sheffield Wednesday player to make this elite list after David Humphries. Hirst’s powerful shot is one of only five fastest shots in football history to reach 180+ km/h. Interestingly, Hirst’s fast strike is the only shot not to find the back of the net. Instead, the ball cracked the woodwork and rebounded away from goal and to safety. Luckily for Hirst, SportsBoom is not measuring fastest strikes that turned to goals. 

4. Ronald Koeman | Sampdoria v Barcelona | May 20, 1992 (188 km/h)

Ronald Koeman scored one of Barcelona’s most famous goals, which is saying quite a lot considering the club’s illustrious history. Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo played for Barcelona. However, it is Koeman on the list. The Dutchman’s indirect free-kick in the 1991/92 Champions League final is legendary. Koeman aimed the shot through the rushing wall and into the bottom corner of the goal to give the Catalans their first European Cup.

3. Steven Reid | Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers | December 31, 2005 (189 km/h)

Steven Reid hit a cracker that will always be remembered, especially by Wigan and Blackburn supporters. On a cold and windy New Year’s Eve, Reid hit a swerving volley from outside the 18-yard box, which curled at lightning speed into the top corner of the Wigan goal. Liverpool’s ‘Stevie G’ would hit a similar strike, but from further out, against West Ham United in the FA Cup final, five months later. Both are memorable and magnificent shots. 

2. Arjen Robben | Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid | August 19, 2009 (190 km/h)

Arjen Robben, one of the greatest wingers of all time, scored a left-footed volley that had the defenders moving away from the fizzing ball. Robben’s sublime volley had Jurgen Klopp shaking his head, stunned on the Dortmund bench. The game was, however, only a friendly.