How Fast Can Messi Run in MPH? A Story of Speed, Magic, and Debate
I’ll never forget that night in 2015, sitting in a packed bar with my friends, eyes glued to the screen as Lionel Messi picked up the ball near the halfway line against Athletic Bilbao. He took off like a bullet, slicing through defenders with that signature burst of speed. “No way he just did that,” my buddy Marco shouted, nearly knocking over his beer. But Messi had done it—again. That insane Copa del Rey goal is still etched in my mind, and it always makes me wonder: just how fast can Messi run in mph?
The Speed That Defied Logic
Messi isn’t your typical sprinter. He’s not built like Cristiano Ronaldo, whose long strides and muscular frame scream "track athlete." Messi’s speed is different—compact, explosive, and always perfectly controlled. Officially, the fastest speed Messi has ever been clocked at is 32.5 km/h (20.2 mph), recorded during the 2017 FIFA World Cup.
That’s fast. Not Mbappé fast (who has been recorded at 22.4 mph), but still world-class. And what makes it even more ridiculous is that Messi runs with the ball almost as fast as he does without it. That’s where the real magic is—his ability to dribble at nearly full sprint.
Remember That Goal Against Boateng?
You know the one. 2015 Champions League semi-final, Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich. Messi picked up the ball near the right wing and—boom—he was gone. He didn’t even need top speed; it was his acceleration, those tiny steps, and that gravity-defying balance that sent Jérôme Boateng crashing to the ground like a fallen tree.
I remember watching that game with my cousin Diego, a die-hard Bayern fan. “Come on, Boateng is a world-class defender!” he kept saying before kickoff. By the time Messi chipped Neuer for his second goal, Diego just sat there, beer in hand, shaking his head.
Sprinting vs. Football Speed
A lot of people focus on top speed, but in football, it’s not just about how fast you run—it’s about how quickly you reach that speed. Messi’s 0 to 60 (okay, more like 0 to 20 mph) is ridiculous. He hits top speed in just a few steps, which is why defenders always seem a step behind.
One stat that always sticks with me: During a 2018 study, Messi’s acceleration was measured at 4.7 m/s². That’s not far off elite sprinters, and when combined with his low center of gravity, it makes him nearly impossible to stop.
The Debates at the Bar
I’ve had so many arguments over Messi’s speed. Some say he slowed down after 30. Others claim he was never really “that fast” to begin with—just incredibly smart with his movement.
Last summer, at a beachside bar in Barcelona, we got into another heated debate. My friend Alex, a die-hard Madridista, tried to downplay Messi’s pace.
“Bro, he was never as fast as Ronaldo,” he argued.
“Maybe not in a straight line,” I countered, “but tell me who could accelerate, stop, change direction, and explode past defenders like Messi?”
Silence. A sip of beer. A reluctant nod.
The Speed That Lasts
Now, at 36, Messi isn’t breaking speed records anymore. But even in MLS, you still see glimpses—those short, sharp bursts where defenders suddenly realize they’ve lost him. The same instincts, the same movement, just with a bit more patience.
His speed was never just about raw mph. It was about timing, intelligence, and that perfect balance between control and chaos.
So, how fast can Messi run in mph? The real answer is: fast enough to make us all believe in magic.
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How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
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