A study carried out by the Mexican Premier League club Pachuca, and backed by FIFA, has brought some surprising results.

Jürgen Damm is the second fastest player in the world when running with the ball.

Wales's Gareth Bale of Real Madrid is the fastest, reaching a speed of 36.9 km per hour, and he is followed by the 22-year old Damm, capable of reaching 35.25 km per hour with the ball at his feet. Damm, of German parentage but born in Mexico, has recently been picked by Mexico manager Miguel 'Piojo' Herrera to play in the national side, and he is likely to make his debut against Ecuador.

The young Pachuca player has surprised everyone by coming out just off the top of the list of the ten fastest footballers in possession of the ball, ahead of media stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; in fact you have to go down the list as far as number five to find Ronaldo, while the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth positions are occupied by Messi, Wayne Rooney, Franck Ribéry and Sergio Ramos, respectively.

The top ten are:

1. Gareth Bale: 36.9 km/h

2. Jürgen Damm: 35.23 km/h

3. Antonio Valencia: 35.1 km/h

4. Aaron Lennon: 33.8 km/h

5. Cristiano Ronaldo: 33.6 km/h

6. Theo Walcott: 32.7 km/h.

7. Lionel Messi: 32.5 km/h.

8. Wayne Rooney: 31.2 km/h.

9. Frank Ribéry: 30.7 km/h.

10. Sergio Ramos: 30.6 km/h.