This year's FIFA cover star has not gone down well...
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Loading... - J. Oliveira
- 14 Jul 2020
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EA Sports has infuriated much of the sports-focused corner of the internet by announcing that Liverpool's Jordan Henderson will appear on the cover of the UK version of FIFA 16.
Henderson will appear as the UK's local variant on the cover, alongside universally-recognised football genius Lionel Messi.
Henderson won a fan vote to be named the face of the long-running football game on the same day that the 25-year-old midfielder was named Liverpool's official replacement for club legend Steven Gerrard as captain of the side.
Henderson beat competition from the Premier League to be given the EA honour including Tottenham phenom Harry Kane and Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The unveiled cover features an exquisitely bad photoshop of Henderson alongside an equally misshapen Messi, but fans aren't happy with some suggesting -- apparently without evidence -- that the choice was the result of widespread trolling.
Clearly Liverpool fans are happy with the choice, however.
Either way, elsewhere in the world the choices were more interesting, with Aussie women's team star Steph Catley taking the title in that country in the same year that female teams make their debut in the game.
Clearly the cover choice won't matter in terms of sales -- FIFA is annually one of the biggest-selling video games of the year. But fans on social media many were less than happy with the choice...
Henderson was pleased, however.
"Being part of the first FIFA cover vote was an incredible honour and it’s an amazing feeling to know that the public voted for me to come out on top and to be on the cover of FIFA 16 alongside Messi," said Henderson in a statement.
"I'm extremely proud to become the first Liverpool player ever on the cover and the support I’ve had from fans around the world over the past few weeks, particularly Liverpool supporters, has been overwhelming. It’s great to realise every young footballer’s dream."
