Electronic Arts announced today that it has signed soccer stars Andriy Shevchenko, Fernando Morientes, and Oswaldo Sanchez, Sanchez and the entire 18-team Mexican League make their FIFA debut, as FIFA Soccer 2005 cover athletes for the North American edition, scheduled for release this fall under the EA SPORTS brand.
"Becoming a FIFA cover athlete is an incredible honor," said Sanchez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico. "I love EA SPORTS, especially the FIFA franchise. To think that my likeness is in the game, and that all the great teams from the Mexican League are now available, is tremendous."
All three soccer stars will appear on packaging and merchandising for FIFA Soccer 2005 in North America while Patrick Viera will replace Sanchez in the European territories. Shevchenko was the leading scorer for the Italian series A champions AC Milan last year. Spanish born Morientes is a three-time Champions League winner playing for Real Madrid and has scored more than 100 goals since joining the club in 1997. Sanchez currently serves as the captain of 10-time national champion Chivas.
"All three players represent the global importance of soccer and help make the FIFA franchise the most authentic and dominant video game on the market," said Matt Bilbey, Director of Worldwide Soccer for EA SPORTS. "Shevchenko, Morientes, Sanchez and Viera have each made a significant impact on the sport and each brings a wide range of personality and style to the FIFA Soccer franchise."
Great soccer players need a great first touch -- and the same is now true for gamers with FIFA Soccer 2005. Using an all-new fluid player kinetic system, a player's first touch becomes a key advantage for players who can think quickly and act fast to outsmart the competition. An all-new animation system reacts to every button press with authentic responsiveness, directly translating to the speed and vision of the world's greatest players. With more than 350 official team and league licenses from around the world, more than 12,000 officially licensed players, an enhanced Career Mode, and EA SPORTS Online play (PlayStation 2 console only), FIFA Soccer 2005 is billed as the only complete, authentic, and intelligent soccer experience.