Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two most competitive rivals in the history of football, however, people are wondering if they are also part of the list that highlighted some of the most intellectually gifted footballers.

The list consists of players, who have demonstrated a commitment to education alongside their footballing prowess as many other prioritise their sporting careers over academic pursuits, according to Vanguard.

Some of the most intellectually gifted footballers to have graced the sport were highlighted by a recent report by Football 365.

The report showcased their academic achievements along with their on-pitch success.

Interestingly, this report did not include Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, Socrates, Simon Mignolet, Petr Cech and others make the list of the most intellectual footballers.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have numerous records and significant prizes to their names, but Messi currently boasts eight Ballons d’Or on his roll of honour compared to Ronaldo’s five, according to Goal.

When asked his opinion on the ongoing debate about the greatest player of all time, Pedri, who worked with Messi at Camp Nou until the Argentine moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, told The Residency: “Messi, without a doubt. But Cristiano is a great player as well.”