Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has admitted that it would be “difficult to say” who would win in a footrace between a ‘prime’ version of himself and Kylian Mbappe.
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe, 24, has become feared for his scintillating pace coupled with his lethal finishing in the final third for both club and country.
According to Ligue 1’s official website in January, the 24-year-old PSG forward is tied for the fastest player in France’s top-flight league in the 2022-23 season.
Mbappe has clocked in an impressive 36 km/h speed on the pitch, with only Lorient striker Terem Moffi, who is on loan at Nice, reaching the same feat this season.
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Agbonlahor, long before Mbappe burst onto the scene, established a reputation for his robust physical strength and frightening pace during his Villa playing days.
The 36-year-old former Villa striker, who retired in 2019 at the age of 32, is believed to have been capable of completing a 100m sprint in only 10.98 seconds.
During the 2014-15 Premier League season, Agbonlahor was ranked among the top 10 fastest players in the league after achieving a top speed of 21.62mph.
Speaking to SPORTbible in an exclusive interview, Agbonlahor recalled one standout example where he showed off his remarkable pace on the pitch.
The former England international picked out his stunning solo run in Villa’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side at the Emirates in 2008.
Martin Laursen booted the ball from outside of the Villa box and Agbonlahor charged from inside his own half to latch on to the clearance.
Agbonlahor then outpaced and outmuscled William Gallas before he smashed a powerful strike past former Arsenal shot-stopper Manuel Almunia.
When asked who would win in a footrace between ‘prime’ Agbonlahor and Mbappe, the talkSPORT pundit said: “Oof. You know what? It’s very difficult to say because I remember there was a clip from 2008 -- I don’t know if you’ve seen it -- where I score at the Emirates against Arsenal.
“It’s played over the top, gets booted away by Martin Laursen. We’re wearing the blue and black acorns Nike [kit] and I run through from the halfway line, ball over the top, sprint past Gallas and smash it in.
“And I don’t know if I look back at like, maybe, 2008-ish, I feel like he [Kylian Mbappe] would have been a great race because Mbappe’s frightening speed, isn’t he? So was I, so it’s hard to compare, you know?
“I feel like nowadays they can clock people’s speed but they couldn’t back then. Yeah, so I think it’d be a great race.”
Agbonlahor added: “Mbappe’s scary speed. It’s scary. Yeah, it’s scary.”
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Topics: Kylian Mbappe, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Football, Spotlight, Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, France, England, Premier League
Adnan Riaz