FC Barcelona: 10 Fastest Players in Barcelona History

Barcelona is a club known for its possession style of Tiki-Taka football. But many tend to forget that the club has featured some of the fastest players the game has ever seen.

Speed always has its place in football no matter what position a player occupies.

Throughout history, there have always been those players known for different types of speed. Whether it be sprinting ability or speed with the ball at one’s feet. Barcelona has enjoyed many players possessing these traits.

In this article we will attempt to rate the top 10 fastest players in the history of Barcelona based on sheer speed and also speed with the ball. 

10 Marti Ventolrá

To many Barcelona fans, the name Marti Ventolrá does not carry much weight. But in the rich history of Barcelona, Ventolrá is known as one of the club's greatest wingers.

Ventolrá wore the Barcelona jersey from 1933-1937 and was a big success in the eyes of the Barcelona faithful. As a player and as a person, Ventolrá was loved (via fcbarcelona).

The Spaniard was known above all else for one thing, his unrivaled speed.

While is it almost impossible to judge the speed of historic players with current players, there is no denying the athletic ability of Marti Ventolrá.

With the ability to outrun almost anyone with and without the ball, Ventolrá finished 10th on our list of fastest Barcelona players.

9 Romario

Romario da Souza is a name most Barcelona fans are familiar with. The Brazilian striker wore the Blaugrana shirt from 1993-1995 and was a dominant force (via fcbarcelona).

Romario was the type of player that could do it all, though some of his abilities certainly stood out. 

As fans watched the Brazilian in the early 1990s his speed with the ball blew everyone away. Romario could turn and sprint at a moment’s notice catching defenders off guard.

It was the quick movements in and around the box that places the great Romario at number nine on our list.

8 Dani Alves

One name on our list that will not surprise is that of current defender Dani Alves.

The Brazilian right-back has been instrumental for the Catalans since joining Barcelona from Sevilla in 2008 (via fcbarcelona). His speed on the flank has given La Blaugrana cover against the counter attack in recent years.

But the speed that Alves shows in defense is also coupled with an offensive ability.Today fans are treated to a show when the Brazilian goes forward in attack. He uses great pace to beat defenders to cross into the box for teammates.

There have not been many in Barcelona history that could have caught Dani Alves, and for that he sits eighth on our list.

7 Ronaldo

Though Ronaldo Luiz Nazario only spend the 1996-1997 season at Barcelona, the Brazilian left a legacy wrought by speed and power (via fcbarcelona).

The 'original' Ronaldo took on many different roles in his career, but at Barcelona his speed was nearly unrivaled. 

The Brazilian striker could be seen during almost any game outrunning defenders to a ball for a chance against the opposing keeper. And when Ronaldo had beaten the defense, you could count on him to score.

However, the great striker was not as quick with the ball at his feet and that sees him sit seventh on our lost of the fastest Barcelona players.

6 Alexis Sanchez

Though young Alexis Sanchez has not lived up to his potential since joining Barcelona, is is impossible to deny his speed on the pitch (via fcbarcelona).

The Chilean enjoys using his pace and quick feet to create distance between him and the defense. After creating space, Sanchez can use a number of quick moves to get into the box.

If the Chile international can find his true form at Barcelona he could certainly become great. His speed and pace has given La Blaugrana a new dynamic to the normally slow play the Catalans often use.

We must all wait to see what becomes of Alexis Sanchez at Barcelona, but his speed has yet to elude him in the Blaugrana shirt. Chile's first Barcelona player remains at sixth, for now.

5 Cristian Tello

Cristian Tello is just breaking onto the Barcelona scene. The 21-year-old winger is still very much a raw player, but there is one thing that sets him apart from other competitors: his immense sprint speed.

Young Tello may very well be the fastest sprinter the club has had in the last decade or so. 

The Catalan is solely a one-tool player at this point, but that single strength has seen him given a new contract recently (via fcbarcelona). Tello enjoys beating the defense with speed before making very quick cuts into the box.

The immense speed of Cristian Tello could eventually see the winger become a regular starter for Barcelona.

As for now, Tello has much room to improve and mature upon. But the future could eventually see Tello become the fastest player Barcelona has ever seen.

4 Ronaldinho

Not only was Ronaldinho was on the fastest players to ever wear the Blaugrana shirt, he was also one of the most important figures in the history of the club.

The Brazilian attacker was known for doing things with the ball that very few could ever dream of. His quick feet gave him the ability to cut and sprint past any opposition as well as dazzle fans with amazing dribbling.

Ronaldinho had the ability to outrun most opponents, but it was his speed with the ball that made him one of the greatest players to ever compete. 

Though Ronaldinho spent only five seasons in Catalonia, his legacy will live on (via fcbarcelona). The Brazilian will always be loved by fans, but he just misses out on our top three fastest Barcelona players.

3 Jordi Alba

Jordi Alba was reunited with his boyhood club this summer and became an instant star (via Goal).

The Catalan left-back is almost a copy of his partner Dani Alves as both posses great speed in defense and attack. However, Alba is an all-around faster player than the Brazilian.

The most exciting area of Alba's game is his speed going at defenders. He can be counted on to beat most defenders but seems to never be caught out of position in defense.

Though Jordi can catch any opponents he is defending, his dribbling is severely lacking the same speed factor.

Though Jordi Alba's sprinting ability is beyond that of Ronaldinho, his dribbling is not nearly as quick. Because of this, Alba sits in third on our list the fastest Barcelona players in history.

2 Lionel Messi

Not many can argue that Lionel Messi is one of the quickest players the world has ever seen.

Though Messi possesses great sprinting speed, his speed with the ball is second to none in the history of football. The Argentine has had countless trademark runs beating seven or more defenders from midfield in route to a goal.

The world is lucky to enjoy the amazing speed, pace and dribbling that Messi shows every game. But due to his sprint speed alone, Messi finishes second on our list.

However, the greatest player in history has plenty of time to change things. For now he will remain the fastest dribbler in Barcelona history.

1 Marc Overmars

Marc Overmars will be remembered as one of the fastest players the game has ever seen.

His time at Barcelona constantly showed his ability to sprint faster than anyone on the field which La Blaugrana enjoyed utilizing in their playing style.

Though Overmars was not nearly as fast as some others with the ball at his feet, he would lose to no one in a foot race. Playing in midfield or on the left-wing, Overmars pushed the tempo of every game.

The Dutch Roadrunner joined Barcelona in 2000 and spent four years at the club (via telegraph).

But in that time he secured his legacy as the fastest player to ever put on a Barcelona shirt, and quite possibly the fastest in the history of the game.

Who would you rate as the fastest player in Barcelona history? Don't forget to leave your thoughts and comments below.

Tre' Atkinson, The Catalan Blood of Bleacher Report. Follow @twitter

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