Kylian Mbappe Names The Fastest Defender He’s Ever Faced: ‘He’s Like A Tank’

Kylian Mbappe has named the players whose incredible pace he most admires - including the quickest defender he's ever come up against.

The famously rapid Paris Saint-German striker was asked by France Football about the players who impressed him the most with their pace. Mbappe picked four players - including Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - but only one defender made the list.

That honour went to Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker who Mbappe marvelled is "like a tank once he hits his speed and he gets into it."

We're not actually sure that tanks are that fast, but Walker definitely has an incredible top speed. Particularly as the England defender is now 31 years old, but shows no signs of slowing down.

On the quickest footballers he's encountered Mpabbe replied: "I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me from the stands - because I was not playing - because of his speed qualities, that is (Jeremy) Doku, at Rennes. In five years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.

"In terms of an incredibly quick player, I would also put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Neymar too, certainly before his injuries. He could change direction with crazy ease.

"There are also players less explosive from a standing start like Kyle Walker at Manchester City. He is like a tank once he hits his speed and he gets into it.

Mbappe came up against Walker in last season's Champions League semi-final first leg in Paris. PSG went 1-0 up via Marquinhos but City fought back to win 2-1 on the night and easily sealed progress in the second leg.

The 22-year-old Mbappe has pace to burn himself, as he showed when he roasted Barcelona's Gerard Pique earlier in the tournament.

However Walker has clearly caught his eye as he rampages up and down the right flank at high velocity. Among Doku, Neymar and Aubameyang - all forwards - it's some compliment for Walker to be picked as the only defender.

Is Kyle Walker the quickest defender in world football? Let us know in the comments.

All imagery: PA Images

Topics: Kyle Walker, Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint Germain

Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

@otheralexreid