Category

IQ scores of
athletes.

Sport is full of claims about reading the game. These are the numbers people attach to that.

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In this category

34 profiles

Each entry opens onto the full story behind the figure.

Magnus Carlsen, chess grandmaster
Athletes

Magnus Carlsen

190Most-cited figure
Bobby Fischer photographed in 1972
Athletes

Bobby Fischer

180Most-cited figure
Garry Kasparov photographed in 2015
Athletes

Garry Kasparov

190Most-cited figure
Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal
Athletes

Cristiano Ronaldo

144Most-cited claim
LeBron James playing for the Los Angeles Lakers
Athletes

LeBron James

144Most-cited claim
Muhammad Ali photographed by Ira Rosenberg in 1967
Athletes

Muhammad Ali

78Most-cited figure
Ryan Fitzpatrick photographed in 2023
Athletes

Ryan Fitzpatrick

150Most-cited figure
Judit Polgár photographed at a chess tournament in 2013
Athletes

Judit Polgár

135–155Estimated range
Bill Bradley, photographed in 2020
Athletes

Bill Bradley

135–150Estimated range
John Urschel on the sideline during an NFL game
Athletes

John Urschel

140Most-cited figure
Hikaru Nakamura at the Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz, 2026
Athletes

Hikaru Nakamura

102Most-cited figure
Tom Brady at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards, April 2024
Athletes

Tom Brady

126Most-cited figure
Lionel Messi playing for Argentina against Egypt, July 2026
Athletes

Lionel Messi

190Most-cited figure
Michael Jordan, photographed in 2006
Athletes

Michael Jordan

154Repeats across celebrity-IQ listicle and quiz sites; no cited test or study behind it
Mike Tyson at a GalaxyCon Austin photo op, 2023
Athletes

Mike Tyson

78–130Circulating estimates
Viswanathan Anand at the 2016 London Chess Classic
Athletes

Viswanathan Anand

182–191Circulating estimates; none cites a test
Gukesh Dommaraju at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in January 2024
Athletes

Gukesh Dommaraju

140–160Generic range; no test cited
Neymar with the Brazil national team before a friendly against Morocco, June 2026
Athletes

Neymar

100–115Our estimate
Mikhail Tal with the Soviet chess delegation at Schiphol Airport, April 1962
Athletes

Mikhail Tal

170–190Circulating estimates
Virat Kohli photographed in November 2017
Athletes

Virat Kohli

100–115Our estimate
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers after a game at Lambeau Field, October 24, 2021
Athletes

Aaron Rodgers

130Circulating IQ figure
Shaquille O’Neal photographed at an event in October 2017
Athletes

Shaquille O’Neal

101Circulating IQ figure
Patrick Mahomes on the sideline in Kansas City Chiefs gear in October 2021
Athletes

Patrick Mahomes

93–108Our estimate
Travis Kelce in his Kansas City Chiefs jersey raising a gloved hand to the crowd in October 2021
Athletes

Travis Kelce

104Wonderlic-derived figure
Lamar Jackson in wire-rimmed glasses and a pink blazer looking at the camera in May 2024
Athletes

Lamar Jackson

90–110Our estimate
Peyton Manning in an orange blazer and a blue sweater speaking at a Denver Broncos game in October 2021
Athletes

Peyton Manning

110–125Our estimate
Kobe Bryant in a gold Los Angeles Lakers jersey looking upward before a free throw in an October 2005 pre-season game
Athletes

Kobe Bryant

144Stated on a celebrity-IQ listicle; no test or source behind it
Kyrie Irving in a white Cleveland Cavaliers jersey holding a basketball during a game in October 2013
Athletes

Kyrie Irving

105–120Our estimate
Erling Haaland with slicked-back hair smiling in a white number 9 shirt in June 2026
Athletes

Erling Haaland

100–145Range attributed to unnamed aggregator sites
Conor McGregor with a shaved head and a broad smile in a grey pinstripe suit in March 2025
Athletes

Conor McGregor

100–120Our estimate
Bruce Lee looking at the camera with dark swept hair in a black-and-white publicity photograph from 1971
Athletes

Bruce Lee

135+Guessed on one page; no test cited
Caitlin Clark with her hair tied back in a black Iowa jersey during a game in February 2024
Athletes

Caitlin Clark

115–130Our estimate
Engraved portrait of the chess master Paul Morphy seated in a dark frock coat with one arm resting on a chair
Athletes

Paul Morphy

172.5Only figure found: one 2005 comment
Frank Lampard in a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie in February 2017
Athletes

Frank Lampard

150+Most-cited figure

Portrait © Frans Peeters, CC BY-SA 2.0. The background-removed portrait above is a derivative work and is likewise offered under the same licence. · Photograph by Bert Verhoeff for Anefo (1972), CC0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Fryta 73 (2015), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, CC BY-SA 4.0. The background-removed portrait above is a derivative work offered under the same licence. · Photograph by Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0. The background-removed portrait above is a derivative work offered under the same licence. · Photograph by Ira Rosenberg for the New York World-Telegram (1967), public domain. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Przemysław Jahr, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped; background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Jay Godwin, LBJ Presidential Library, public domain (U.S. government work). · Photograph by Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0. Cropped from the original. · Photograph by ChessKelly, CC BY 4.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Barcex, CC BY-SA 4.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, CC BY-SA 4.0. The background-removed portrait above is a derivative work offered under the same licence. · Photograph by Joshua Massel, cropped by Commons user Quadzilla99, CC BY-SA 2.0. · Photograph by Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Wolfgang Jekel (London Chess Classic, 2016), CC BY 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Frans Peeters (Tata Steel Chess Tournament, January 2024), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Bryan Berlin (13 June 2026), CC BY-SA 4.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Harry Pot for Anefo, Dutch National Archives, via Wikimedia Commons (26 April 1962), CC BY-SA 3.0 NL. Cropped to exclude another member of the delegation visible in the original frame. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Anand Anil (November 2017), CC BY-SA 4.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by All-Pro Reels (Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin, October 24, 2021), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by MarkScottAustinTX (Dell CE Day, October 3, 2017), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by All-Pro Reels (October 17, 2021), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by All-Pro Reels (October 17, 2021), CC BY-SA 2.0. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Maryland GovPics (149th Preakness Stakes, Pimlico, May 18, 2024), CC BY 2.0, cropped from a larger picture. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by All-Pro Reels (Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, October 31, 2021), CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped from a larger picture. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Sgt. Joseph A. Lee, U.S. Marine Corps (pre-season game against the Golden State Warriors, October 11, 2005; Commons file), cropped; public domain as a work of the U.S. federal government. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Erik Drost (October 17, 2013), CC BY 2.0, cropped from a larger picture. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by Bryan Berlin (Morocco v Norway, June 7, 2026), CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped from a larger picture. Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza for the U.S. Department of Defense (March 17, 2025; Commons file), cropped; public domain as a work of the U.S. federal government. Background removed for the portrait above. · Publicity photograph distributed by National General Pictures (1971, for Fists of Fury; Commons file), cropped; public domain in the United States (published without a copyright notice). Background removed for the portrait above. · Photograph by John Mac (Iowa at Minnesota, Williams Arena, Minneapolis, February 28, 2024), CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped from a larger picture. Background removed for the portrait above. · Engraved portrait of Paul Morphy (made before 1885; Commons file), cropped; public domain (published before 1885, artist unknown). · Photograph by @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London (February 25, 2017), CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and with background removed for the portrait above.

More profiles are on the way. A name joins this category once its figure has been traced and a properly licensed portrait is cleared.

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Questions

Athletes IQ, asked and answered

How are IQ scores for athletes estimated?

Not by testing anyone. Each figure on this page is inferred from the documented record — published work, contemporary accounts, verified qualifications — using a named method set out under how we read a number. Every profile shows its own workings.

Which of these athletes has the highest IQ?

Bobby Fischer holds the highest estimate in this category at 160–180. That ordering comes from the midpoint of each range and it re-sorts itself as profiles are added, so treat it as a convenience rather than a verdict. The full leaderboard ranks every category together.

How many athletes profiles are there?

34 so far, and the list grows as figures are traced and portraits licensed. Browse the rest of the section from all categories, or start at the Celebrity IQ hub.

How do I compare my own IQ with these athletes?

Get a measured number first. The IQ Metrics assessment is 30 questions and reports on the same 100-mean scale used on every profile here, with a percentile and an ability breakdown. How we score and norm it explains the benchmarking, and average IQ by country shows how the same scale looks across populations.

Where would you
actually land?

Your score, your percentile, your ability breakdown and a printable IIF certificate.

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