RIO FERDINAND has revealed the amazing gift that could have kept him on his toes even more than waltzing football icons like Lionel Messi did.

The Manchester United legend chose the Theatre of Dreams over the Theatre of Streams – well, Swan Lake – despite being a ballet prodigy.

Rio Ferdinand is now doing punditry instead of pirouettes

Ferdinand got a lift-off with the Red Devils, her with Diego Forlan and Rio Ferdinand, but could have been thrown into a whirl via ballet

The former England defender was renowned for his deft ball-carrying technique out of the back.

On the other hand, he might have become well-known for his elegance while maintaining his elevated feet if he had received a special dancing scholarship.

In his twelve years with United, Ferdy won one Champions League trophy, six Premier League crowns, and 81 caps overall.

He’s now given a backstory that includes allusions to Billy Elliott, the made-up child from the film of the same name who rose to fame as a ballet dancer.

Ferdinand, 45, told the Guardian: “I was given a scholarship to the Central School of Ballet, which was a big thing for a boy from a council estate in south London.

“I had an amazing time, but it got to the point where I’d have to go every single day to be able to audition for bigger productions.

“It was my decision to come away from it and choose football.”

The ex-West Ham ace is skilled at other sports, too, notably table tennis

And he also stepped into ring for emotional well-being a few years ago.

The TV pundit said: “I took up boxing for my mental health.

“I needed to find something to take my mind off a personal situation that was happening at the time.

“People said I was mad. I was training obsessively five or six times a week, sparring with Olympic fighters. ”

But he reckons it was a “blessing in disguise” when boxing chiefs turned him down for a fight licence.

Yet choosing to fling his fists up to spar rather than fling his legs up to the ballet barre still seems less of a… twist!