Lionel Messi Becomes the Global Face of EA’s FIFA Series, Stars on FIFA Street Cover

Electronic Arts has scored another major win for its FIFA soccer (football) simulator, as the company has just signed superstar Lionel Messi to become the ‘global face’ of the franchise in the next few years, snatching him from its rival, Konami’s PES series.

EA’s FIFA franchise has become extremely popular in recent years, managing to shatter sales records for sports games this year through FIFA 12, the newest iteration in the series.

Now, EA’s Sports label has scored a new win, convincing Lionel Messi, star of FC Barcelona and the Argentinian national soccer team, to become the ambassador for the FIFA franchise and star on the cover of next year’s FIFA Street title, which you can enjoy above.

“Our FIFA franchise is the number one selling sports videogame franchise in the world, and Lionel Messi is the number one player in the world, so this agreement is a true partnership of superstars,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President and GM of Football, EA Sports. “With Messi on our team we have the world’s best and most exciting player to help EA Sports maintain its global leadership in the years ahead.”

“I want to be part of the team behind the best sports football game in the world and be associated with the great EA Sports name,” said Messi. “EA Sports is a brand that shares my values of creativity, excellence and social responsibility.”

Lionel Messi is currently one of the most prestigious football players in the world, winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or last year, and looks set to break plenty of more world records, considering he’s only 24 years old.

Previously, Messi appeared on the covers of the last few Pro Evolution Soccer titles from Konami, EA’s arch rival, so this is a pretty major win for the North American company.

After appearing on the cover of FIFA Street in March, 2012, expect Messi to grace the boxes of other upcoming FIFA products, including FIFA 13.