
Share
3rd March 2015
04:27pm GMT

"I have a radar gun, can I see how fast you can kick that soccer ball?" #124MPH #ImNotSureHowManyFolksCanDoThat pic.twitter.com/odN3G7fv1w
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 2, 2015
Okay, so if we accept this as the new benchmark, what does the internet have to say about actual soccer players shots?
The Guardian's excellent Knowledge column addressed the issue back in 2007. Using data supplied by Sky, the hardest on their database was this off-the-bar effort by Sheffield Wednesday's David Hirst against Arsenal in 1996, clocking in at 114mph.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9tV9evOCIs
That effort put Hirst miles ahead of the next best effort, a free kick by David Beckham against Chelsea in 1997 that was a measly 97.9mph.
Some other well known thronkers on the list include Alan Shearer's bullet against Leicester in 1997 (Skip to 1.00 below) at 85.8mph...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUrftdKkFzU
And Obafemi Martins rasper against Spurs in 2007, clocked at 84mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbvImSXWcQU
There are a few more contenders. This beaut by Steven Reid is alleged to have hit a top speed of 117mph...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4F9TQQeb2g
And this unverified effort from Sporting Lisbon's Ronny Heberson is claimed to have hit 131mph.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSzwIBeihXA
Sadly, as it is unverified, the honour, for now, must go to McAfee.
We demand that football clubs around the world put speed guns in at training so we can finally wrest the honour back from the NFL.
Explore more on these topics: