Confirmed: Real Madrid megastar Kylian Mbappe unveiled as the cover athlete for EA FC 27 | OneFootball

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been officially revealed as the primary cover star for EA Sports’ upcoming gaming flagship, FC 27.

The 27-year-old French captain, who captured the world’s attention with a stunning 10-goal masterclass at the recent FIFA World Cup, is set to headline both the premier Ultimate Edition and EA Sports FC Mobile packages.

The visual announcement sees Mbappe proudly donning the iconic white kit of the reigning European champions, marking a major milestone for the player and his club.

A long-standing partnership

While this marks Mbappe’s first appearance as the standalone face of the rebranded EA Sports FC era, it signifies a triumphant return to form for the global gaming icon.

The striker previously headlined three consecutive iterations of the historic series – FIFA 21, FIFA 22, and FIFA 23 – while leading the line for Paris Saint-Germain.

However, his transition to the capital of Spain has elevated his commercial marketability to a completely different tier.

Commenting on the reveal, Mbappe expressed his immense gratitude, noting that featuring on the cover of an FC title for the first time while representing Los Blancos is a very special, career-defining honour.

“To be featured on the cover of an EA Sports FC title for the first time is a very special moment for me,” he said, as quoted by Game Reactor.

“It’s an honour to continue my long-term relationship with the franchise in its latest chapter, alongside the players who have shaped its history. I can’t wait for everyone to experience FC 27.”

Continuing a Real Madrid Tradition

Mbappe’s appearance extends a legendary, multi-decade relationship between Electronic Arts and the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy.

The French forward follows directly in the footsteps of teammate Jude Bellingham, who dominated the standard edition covers of the gaming franchise (EA FC 25, EA FC 26).

Bellingham has featured on the EA FC cover in the past. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

By gracing the box art, Mbappe also joins an elite pantheon of past Real Madrid Galacticos who have historically shaped the game’s cultural identity

Cristiano Ronaldo, spearheaded the iconic global marketing campaigns for FIFA 18 during his record-breaking tenure in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Eden Hazard was the cover athlete for FIFA 20 and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane was selected as the ultimate icon cover athlete to celebrate the launch of FIFA 20.

Another club icon, Kaka, famously shared the international limelight during his prime years as the premier cover star for FIFA 11. Roberto Carlos headlined the global edition of FIFA Football 2003.