Erling Haaland, Moussa Diaby and the Bundesliga's top 5 speedsters in 2022
Erling Haaland and Moussa Diaby have regularly put the afterburners on this year. bundesliga.com reveals where they rank among the German top flight's distance runners in 2022...
5) Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, 22.4 mph/36.1 kmph)
The Dutch flier has become one of the most exciting players to watch in the Bundesliga this season, with his electrifying performances down the right-side of Leverkusen's flank catching the eye. The rapid full-back (five) is behind only Diaby (six) in the team's scoring charts, with the pair developing a blink-and-you'll-miss-it partnership for Die Werkself. It means Frimpong is already enjoying his most prolific season to date as a professional and - although yet to make a senior debut for his country - he was rewarded for his superb form with a maiden call-up to the Netherlands side in March 2022, as well as a place in the Dutch World Cup squad.
4) Nathan Ngoumou (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 22.5 mph/36.2 kmph)
Signed in the summer from Tolouse, Ngoumou is still adapting to life in Germany but has made an impression during his 170 minutes of top-flight football. That includes the 22-year-old winger registering a fastest speed of 22.5 mph (36.2 kmph), which gives a major hint as to why the Foals made their move for the French youngster in August. If Ngoumou can maintain his early momentum then we will surely be seeing more and more of the France U21 international.
3) Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, 22.5 mph/36.3 kmph)
The former Dortmund goal-getter was moulded into a near perfect centre-forward at the Signal Iduna Park; combining a lethal touch in front of goal with a bulldozing frame that, somehow, tops out at over 22 mph and can produce gravity-defying moments of magic (as seen in the video below). It's little wonder then that the Norwegian plundered 62 goals in 67 Bundesliga appearances while at BVB, during a record-breaking stint in black and yellow. A complete, modern day blueprint of a striker, defenders up and down the Bundesliga were glad to have seen the back of Haaland when he departed the club in the summer.
Watch: Erling Haaland top 5 acrobatic goals for Dortmund
Want more Bundesliga Action?
2) Sheraldo Becker (Union Berlin, 22.6 mph/36.4 kmph)
It's been quite the year for Union, who finished fifth in 2021/22 and went on to lead the Bundesliga for the first time in their history when they moved into top spot on Matchday 6 of the current campaign. Becker has been central to Union's soaring form, scoring seven times and providing three more assists in 15 league outings in 2022/23 alone headed into the winter break. His searing speed has been a major asset to Urs Fischer's plans, with Union utilising the 27-year-old's pace to get in behind opposition defenders on a regular basis and punish teams on the counter.
Watch: Sheraldo Becker - Union's main man under the tactical microscope
1) Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen, 22.7 mph/36.5 kmph)
Leading the ranks is Diaby, who followed up his career best season in 2021/22 by contributing six goals and three assists in 15 Bundesliga appearances this time around. That's despite Leverkusen's poor start to 2022/23, but one Diaby has helped turn around by scoring in each of Leverkusen's three games before the World Cup-enforced break.
Watch: Diaby continues red-hot streak with star role in win over VfB Stuttgart
He struck four times in that run, helping to deliver three victories on the spin. That sequence started with Diaby bagging a brace in a 5-0 win over Union, and then finding the back of the net as Alonso's men beat Cologne and then Stuttgart. Pace, trickery, and a consistent end product; Diaby is developing into some player at the BayArena and he comes in at second-place in the all-time charts for the Bundesliga's fastest men in history.
2022 in review:
Best goalkeepers | Most efficient players | Top distance runners | Top assisters
Related news
Vote for your Bundesliga Team of the Season!
Pick your best XI from our list of 40 nominees to win exclusive prizes!
Leverkusen's Bundesliga title win in numbers
Xabi Alonso's side have sewed up the Meisterschale with room to spare and without a single defeat in sight...
Leverkusen's key title-winning players
Leverkusen have finally got their hands on a first ever Bundesliga title. It was a team effort from Alonso's men, but a handful of players stood out nonetheless…