FIFA face for World Book Day is a Nigeria born genius

World Book Day is a celebration of stories: some involving dragons and heroes, some about ordinary everyday life.

Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s story has been anything but ordinary, building on a prodigious talent that was first spotted on a TV show called ‘Child Genius' when he was just eight years old. 

Now, a Chelsea academy player who has already been capped at U15 and U17 level for England, Tudor Mendel-Idowu, who surely must be the UK's brightest footballer.

The Chelsea academy prospect, 17, is blossoming in the U18s this season - with five goals and three assists in nine games.

However, if he doesn't make the grade as a player - he can count on his education.

Mendel-Idowu is a star pupil at the prestigious Eton College, where Prince William and Harry attended.

Better still, he's a King's Scholar - meaning he's one of the most academically gifted boys in England.

As early as age eight, Mendel-Idowu was juggling academia with playing football.

He took part in the Child Genius of the Year in 2014, alongside his 11-year-old sister Hazelle, that featured on Channel 4.

The competition was overseen by Mensa, and featured 20 highly-gifted youngsters between the ages of seven to 12, who face two gruelling rounds: Logic and Reasoning and Memory Recall – where they have just one hour to commit 104 randomly shuffled playing cards to memory.

While his sister was eliminated in the second round, brainy Tudor finished second overall.

At the same time, he discovered a flair for the beautiful game as various clubs declared their interest.

"Like every kid, I played football from a very young age," he told Chelsea's website.

"It would have been around the age of seven or eight that I realised I had a special talent. About the same time, I saw my academic gift coming to fruition as well.

"There were different top academies across the UK that approached me. Chelsea were the ones who showed the most interest and essentially being the top academy, they really wanted to get me, and did in the end."

Intelligence and being a brilliant footballer (he's been capped by England at U15 and U17 level) is in Mendel-Idowu's blood.

His grandfather on his mother's side played internationally for Nigeria. 

“There’s quite a bit of talent that runs through the family, but I'll just take two specific examples. My grandfather on my mother’s side played internationally Nigeria. I actually have a photo at home of him with Pele at a game  which I always found inspirational. 

“On my father's side, my grandfather Fola Kayode Mendel-Idowu was a gifted academic. He specialised in bio-aeronautics, and as a pretty cool fact, he was Africa's first flying doctor. So, my parents have always said I am a sort of fusion of these two extraordinary individuals.’’

What position did your footballing grandfather play? 

“I’d regard myself as a number 10 or a right-winger. He was a winger as well, but perhaps less in the modern sense of the word. Today it's about playing on the wing opposite to your strongest foot. So, you're driving and cutting in to score. My grandfather was more of a crossing, up-and-down-the-flanks style winger. “

He would make history as Africa's first flying doctor.

"My parents have always said I am a sort of fusion of these two extraordinary individuals," he recently told FIFA.com.

Astonishingly, Tudor is a King's Scholar at Eton.

"King’s Scholars are the top fourteen brightest students in the UK, if not the world, admitted once per year at the age of 13," he explained.

"It's decided after a rigorous examination process over two weeks, covering papers in a variety of subjects: Maths, Latin and Divinity to name a few."

Currently, he's studying Latin, Greek and Modern History for his A-levels.

He said: "Students who study these subjects have a wide range of options. I'm looking at Classics courses which opens other pathways like Philosophy, Law, Literature and Archaeology.

"Foreign policy and international relations have always interested me too. I can really go in any of these directions."

Football and academia have not historically been considered bedfellows. How do your teammates view what you're trying to achieve?

“When you're trying to combine two worlds, which are regarded by many as diametrically opposed, it’s very difficult. Not everybody wants to, or is willing to simultaneously pursue two such paths. I think it’s come to the point where my teammates respect my dual endeavours, but largely due to my footballing quality. As long as I keep performing on the pitch, as I do, I don’t think they care too much!”

Oxbridge by week; Premier League footballer by weekend. How much of a quandary might that be? 

“I'm sitting my first year of specialist study, so it’s a bit early to think about that! Combining a degree with playing, the logistics would need to be organised. From my perspective though, nothing is impossible. I think I’ve already started to prove that!”

What was your favourite book growing up? “When I was 7 or 8, I was fascinated by a book called War Horse which ties in with my interest in modern history. For young kids, it’s a book they should get their hands on. Michael Morpurgo is a great author. I read almost all his books when I was little.

“I'm currently reading a collection of essays by a writer called David Berlinski. It looks at the shortcomings of materialistic thought and how it affects society, past and present. It's a pretty hard read, but ties into what I'm doing at school, as we have this course called ‘Perspectives’, in which we discuss a range of topics from politics, philosophy, ethics and law.”

Regarding sport, “I was fascinated by a young Neymar Jr. He’s the player I have tried to model my game on. Seeing how he developed from U17 and U20 level, to that period at Barcelona where he became this ultra-entertaining player with a unique style, I’d love to learn more about that.”  

Looking into the next five years, 

“It's hard to pinpoint exactly where I will be. In terms of football, in five years, I'll be 22. I want to be competing at the highest level. I have the same expectations for myself in football as I have as an academic. I want to be at the top. Playing in, and winning Champions Leagues. Playing at a World Cup. Maybe even a World Player of the Year Award – we’ll see!

“Academically, it's a process of continually learning. I'm studying Latin, Greek and Modern History at A level at the moment. Students who study these subjects have a wide range of options. I'm looking at Classics courses which opens other pathways like Philosophy, Law, Literature and Archaeology. Foreign policy and international relations have always interested me too. I can really go in any of these directions.”

Tudor Mendel-Idowu. Remember the name.