Kylian Mbappé’s speed is the kind that makes defenders look like they are running in sand. Fans call it “Mbappé sonic speed” because he seems to flip a switch into a higher gear, and the scariest part is that he keeps that pace with the soccer ball at his feet. If you have searched “Mbappé speed” or “Kylian Mbappé super speed,” you have probably seen the clip of him tearing through the Argentina team at the 2018 World Cup.
So how fast is Mbappé, and is he faster than Sonic? Sonic is a cartoon hedgehog, so no human wins that race. But among real soccer players, Mbappé is widely regarded as one of the fastest in the world, with reported sprint speeds near the top of the sport. More useful for young players: his speed is not just a gift. It comes from explosive acceleration, smart decisions about when to run, and the ability to dribble at full pace. All three can be trained.
Mbappé’s Speed: The Run Everyone Remembers
Mbappé grew up in Bondy, just outside Paris, and broke through as a teenager at AS Monaco before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. In 2024 he moved to Real Madrid, a transfer he had been linked with for years.
The world really noticed his speed in the 2018 World Cup Round of 16 against Argentina. Early in the game, Mbappé picked up the ball deep in his own half and simply ran. He pushed the ball into space, accelerated past one opponent after another, and was fouled in the box to win a penalty. Later in that match he scored twice, and France won 4-3. A few weeks later, at just 19, he scored in the final as France beat Croatia to win the World Cup.
Four years later, in the 2022 World Cup final, he scored a hat-trick against Argentina. France lost that final on penalties, but the performance confirmed what everyone already knew: when Mbappé gets running, defenses panic.
Why Mbappé Is So Fast With the Ball
Lots of players are quick in a straight line without the ball. What makes Mbappé special is that he loses very little speed when he dribbles. A few things make that possible:
- Big, purposeful touches into space. When the field is open, he pushes the ball well ahead of him and sprints onto it instead of taking short, choppy touches.
- Explosive first steps. His acceleration over the first few yards is what really separates him. Defenders who wait for him to commit are already beaten.
- Touches that match his stride. He touches the ball in rhythm with his running, usually with the outside or laces of the foot, so he never has to break stride.
- Attacking the defender’s weak side. He often shapes to go one way and then knocks the ball past the defender on the other side, turning a 1v1 into a footrace he knows he will win.
Kylian Mbappé Speed Training: How to Run Like Him, Step by Step
You do not need to be the fastest kid on the team to use these ideas. Speed with the ball is mostly technique and timing.
- Read the space. Before you receive, check over your shoulder. If there is open grass behind the defender, plan to attack it.
- Take your first touch forward. Let your first touch carry the ball into space in front of you, not under your feet. A forward first touch is the start of the sprint.
- Use the laces or outside of the foot. Keep your toes pointed down and push the ball with the laces or the outside of your foot so you can run naturally.
- Choose the size of the touch. In open space, push the ball five to ten yards ahead. When a defender is close, shorten the touch so they cannot step in.
- Drive your arms and stay low. Lean slightly forward over the first few steps and pump your arms. Accelerate first, then stand taller as you reach top speed.
- Knock and run. When a defender squares up, push the ball past one side of them and run around the other. Speed beats the defender, not a trick.
- Finish the run. Look up before your final touch to decide whether to shoot, cross or pass.
Attack the Space When You Can
One lesson every young player can take from Mbappé is to be brave about running with the ball. If you have space, race down the sideline. Make the defender turn and chase. Defenders hate being run at, and they often have only bad options: foul you, slide in and risk a mistake, or let you go. Sometimes the best play is simply to go.
Common Mistakes When Dribbling at Speed
- Too many small touches. Tapping the ball every step slows you down. In open space, fewer and bigger touches are faster.
- Pushing the ball too far. A touch that is too long gives the defender or goalkeeper a chance to win it. Match your touch to the space.
- Staring at the ball. If your head is down, you will miss the open teammate or run into a covering defender.
- Running at full speed all the time. Mbappé often jogs, waits, then explodes. Changing pace is what makes speed dangerous.
- Ignoring the weak foot. If you can only push the ball with one foot, defenders will show you the other way.
Practice Drill: Mbappé Speed Session (About 40 Minutes)
- Dynamic warm-up (8 minutes). Light jogging with the ball, high knees, skips, side shuffles and a few gentle build-up runs.
- Acceleration starts (6 minutes). Without the ball, sprint 10 yards from different starting positions: standing, lying down, facing backward. Six to eight reps with full recovery between each.
- Running with the ball (8 minutes). Set two cones 30 yards apart. Dribble at full speed using the laces, two or three big touches only. Four reps with each foot, walking back to recover.
- Knock and run (8 minutes). Place a cone as a “defender” 10 yards ahead. Dribble at it, knock the ball past one side, sprint around the other side, and collect it. Alternate sides. Eight to ten reps.
- 1v1 race to goal (10 minutes). A coach serves the ball into space. The attacker and a defender start side by side, the attacker one yard ahead. Attacker races to finish on a small goal. Switch roles every rep.
Keep sprint work short and sharp. Real speed training needs rest between reps, so do not turn this into a conditioning run.
The Coerver Angle
At Coerver Coaching, speed is one of the building blocks of our player development pyramid, but we always teach it alongside ball mastery. A fast player who cannot control the ball at pace is easy to defend. The goal is to develop players who can change direction, change speed and keep the ball close when they need to, then explode into space when the chance opens up. Mbappé is a perfect example of that combination: a 1v1 attacker whose touch keeps up with his legs.
For more on this topic, read our full profile of Kylian Mbappé’s pure speed and clinical finishing, try these soccer speed drills from Coerver Coaching, and see how a different superstar uses Lionel Messi’s change of pace to beat defenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mbappé faster than Sonic?
No. Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game character who runs faster than sound, so no human comes close. “Mbappé sonic” is a fan nickname for how suddenly he hits top speed.
How fast is Kylian Mbappé?
He is widely regarded as one of the fastest players in world soccer. Various top speeds have been reported over the years, but numbers depend on how and where they were measured. What matters most is his acceleration and his ability to stay fast with the ball.
Can kids train to be fast like Mbappé?
Every player can get faster. Young players improve speed through good running technique, short sprints with full rest, agility games and lots of practice running with the ball. Natural sprint ability varies, but speed with the ball is a skill anyone can improve.
What club does Mbappé play for?
He joined Real Madrid in 2024 after seven seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. He started his professional career at AS Monaco.
