When Fifa released the fastest sprint speeds from the opening round of World Cup 2026, the name at the top of the list was unexpected: Jordan Bos, Australia’s defender.

Bos clocked an impressive 36.7 km/h during his country's 2-0 opening-game victory over Turkey. Close behind were Erling Haaland of Norway and Abdukodir Khusanov from Manchester City, both reaching 36.5 km/h. Established speedsters like Kylian Mbappe, Son Heung-min, and Pedro Neto trailed in the rankings.

For fans of Dutch football, Bos’s achievement comes as no surprise. The 23-year-old has just completed his best season at Feyenoord, establishing himself as one of the Eredivisie's most productive full-backs. He recorded nine assists—the highest in Robin van Persie's squad—and scored four goals, helping his team secure a Champions League spot.

Bos's rise is particularly fascinating given his physical transformation. His teammate Connor Metcalfe recalls a very different Bos from their days at Melbourne City’s academy. Initially smaller than his peers, Bos underwent a significant change:

Out of nowhere, just after an off-season, he came back and he was a unit.

This transformation draws comparisons to Gareth Bale, who also evolved from a smaller full-back into a world-class athlete. Like Bale, Bos focused on developing his technical skills before his physical growth caught up, allowing him to excel with balance, ball control, and intelligence.