The new cover for the 2024 ultimate edition of the popular video game franchise, EA FC, formerly known as FIFA, has now been released and it does not feature either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite Messi and Ronaldo being football's biggest stars and the men with the most cover appearances on the FIFA video game franchise, they were conspicuously absent from a cover that featured a line up of stars.
31 players feature on the new EA FC Ultimate edition cover, which seems to officially spell the end of Messi and Ronaldo's run as the video game's cover stars.
The stars of The World’s Game are in the club.
Presenting the #FC24 Ultimate Edition Cover #EASPORTSFC pic.twitter.com/zEzGWdbHwa
— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) July 10, 2023
Messi vs Ronaldo: EA FC branding battle between rivals
The football/soccer video game that has entertained lovers of the sport and the gaming community for more than two decades have appealed to fans using images of their favourite players.
From its first appearance on the video game scene as FIFA International Soccer in 1993 to its most recent iteration, FIFA 23, the biggest stars have graced its covers.
Not many have managed to grace multiple covers the way Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have, however, leading to another point in the eternal Messi vs Ronaldo battle for the rights to be called the GOAT of football.
Welcome to the club. Welcome to #EASPORTSFC.
See the full #FC24 reveal on July 13: https://t.co/VqiFi7fgNs pic.twitter.com/gIx7TkW7az
— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) July 10, 2023
There have been 30 editions of the game to date. Below is the result of the Messi vs Ronaldo battle for the most FIFA covers.
| Messi | Ronaldo |
| FIFA 13 | FIFA 18 |
| FIFA 14 | FIFA 19 |
| FIFA 15 (shared with Eden Hazard) | |
| FIFA 16 | |
| Total: 4 | Total: 2 |
Wayne Rooney has the most appearances on FIFA covers with seven, followed by Messi's former Barcelona teammate Ronaldinho with six (inclusive of the new edition just released).
Both of them have never been solo features on the cover, however, which gives Messi the upper hand as he has graced the cover of FIFA three times without sharing.
The new cover features AFCON legend Didier Drogba, former Super Eagles prospect and England Three Lions forward Bukayo Saka and the late great Pelé.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Battle coming to an end?
Fans are dreading the end of the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry on the pitch but the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry off the pitch is sure to continue for longer.
Both players are entering the twilight of their careers and with Messi's move to Inter Miami close to being finalised, both players will have left the football mainstream which is European competition.
Ronaldo (38) is currently playing in Al Nassr and could return to Europe for one last hurrah before hanging up his boots. Messi, on the other hand, looks set to end his career after Inter Miami, if his statements following Argentina's win at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are anything to go by.
The omission of both stars from the EA FC Ultimate edition at this point means fans can look forward to another Messi vs Ronaldo battle when they both become legends following their retirement.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
