It’s been a slightly awkward year for EA Sports with their football game behemoth FIFA having to undergo an identity transformation to the much less cool-sounding EAFC 24. On top of that two of its biggest selling cash cows when it comes to ultimate team Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both rapidly approaching the ends of their respective careers, with one choosing to eke out his career in Saudi Arabia and the latter in the MLS in the United States.
Not so much of a problem you might think, EA FC still covers those teams. Yes, but when it comes to end-of-season promos such as Team of the Year and the like, both players are no longer in a league deemed usually worthy of being noticed. Players for team of the year traditionally come from the established bigger leagues such as the UK, Spain, France, and Germany, but this year leakers are suggesting we are to get some guest appearances from guess where….yep.
FIFA leaker (still sounds better) FUTzone has posted on X that both Messi and Ronaldo will get in the EAFC 24 Team of the Year with one making the main cut and the other arriving as 12th man, but the decision has not been made which is which as yet.
🚨 Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 and Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 both have cards added to come during TOTY!
One most likely 12th man (voting), other should be in the squad, it’s undecided yet! 🤯💣
Collab design with @EAFCEire 🔥#FC24 pic.twitter.com/DPDxxfjZr7
— FUTZone – EA SPORTS FC News 🔺 (@FUTZONEFIFA) January 14, 2024
Messi of course won the Balon d’Or and picked up a World Cup Medal whereas Ronaldo bought a new mansion in the desert, but he still scored 44 goals in just 50 games for Al Nassr.
As GGRecon rightly points out however, for those two to get in some big names from the European leagues are going to have to miss out. Harry Kane from Bayern? Vinicius from Real Madrid? Mo Salah is also tipped to only get an Honorable Mention card.
As the Team of the Year is voted for by the fans and Messi and Ronaldo have those in abundance, it is almost a shoe-in they will get into the team for as long as they are lacing up their boots.
Team of the Year will go live on Friday with the reveal of both the Men’s and Women’s cards.
