Being a professional footballer is a career aspiration of young people as it offers them an opportunity to become millionaires by playing their favourite sport. After all, playing on the pitch requires no academic education. However, some football players were able to pursue academic education and completed their graduation. Here is a list of influential footballers with university degrees.

The 34-year-old Spanish international footballer Juan Mata was mainly recognised as an attacking midfielder in Real Madrid Castilla. Aside from having a brilliant football career, Juan Mata earned bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Sports Science from Camilo José Cela University.

The former midfielder Frank Lampard was a legend at West Ham and Chelsea. The English professional football manager graduated in Political Science and Law at Leuven University.

The AC Milan legend Fikayo Tomori continues his studies at the Open University in Business Management because studying is an option when he retires. The 25-year-old Canadian footballer was the brightest student when he was at Gravesend Grammar School.

The Belgian professional footballer Simon Mignolet has represented the Belgium national team as a goalkeeper and has become Liverpool’s top goalkeeper in the Premier League. Mignolet graduated in Political Science from the Catholic University of Leuven.

The striker Romelu Lukaku made his debut with Manchester United Club in the UEFA Super Cup. The Belgian professional footballer was a brilliant student because apart from completing his graduation in Public Relations, Romelu Lukaku is also fluent in five languages.

The English professional footballer Duncan Watmore who was born on 8 March 1994, plays in Championship for Middlesbrough FC. The forward was transferred from the University of Manchester to Newcastle University after studying for a degree in Economics and Business Management.

Juventus FC’s captain Giorgio Chiellini is an Italian footballer considered one of the best defenders. The 38-year-old player enrolled at the University of Turin where he completed his Master's Degree in Business Administration cum laude in 2017.

The Dutch former professional footballer Nigel De Jong continues his career path as an English language pundit for beIN Sports. Jong has a degree in Economics degree and wants to become an entrepreneur.

One of the best central midfielders in the France football national team is N’Golo Kanté, who has the ambition to become an accountant. The 31-years-old professional footballer with an accounting degree revealed that he was a trained accountant.

The Belgian former centre-back player Vincent Kompanyachieved his graduation from Alliance Manchester Business School. The 34-year-old Manchester City captain graduated with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

The Nigerian former footballer Seyi Olofinjana played as a midfielder for Premier League club Stoke City. After graduating in Project Management, Olofinjana has also become chemical engineering graduate.

The Polish professional footballer Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers for FC Barcelona. Lewandowski received his university degree in Management and Physical Education with coaching.

The Spanish professional footballer Andrés Iniesta was recognised during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The FC Barcelona midfielder completed a double degree; in Biology and in Sports Science.

The Ivorian professional footballer Salomon Kalou was Chelsea FC’s forward and winger who won several numerous honours. Salamon Kalou graduated in Business administration from the Business School of Lyon.

The 36-years old Japanese professional footballer Yuto Nagatomo plays as a full-back in the Japan national team and Japanese club FC Tokyo. Nagatomo graduated in Political Economy in 2007 after pursuing his study at Meiji University.

The French professional footballer Daniel Congré played on various youth football teams in France between 2004 and 2014. This defence player completed his degree in Sociology from Lyon University.

A midfielder French professional footballer Benjamin Corgnet made his debut in the French League Cupin 2010. Although Benjamin Corgnet revealed his regret to miss his medicine study, the Dijon club player completed an optician bachelor's degree.

The French former professional footballer defender Jean-Alain Boumsong was remarkable when he spent two seasons at Newcastle Unitedin 2005. The footballer of Cameroonian origin graduated with honours in mathematics from Le Havre Normandy University.

Born on 23 August 1984, Glen Johnson is an English former professional footballer who began his career at West Ham United. After studying at Leigh CTC School and completing training within local universities, Glen Johnson founded Johnsons Real Estate with his brother.