It has been three years since Diego Maradona’s icon disappeared from EA SPORTS’ football games. Now the Argentine is returning to the game. A Valentine’s Day gift for FC 25 players is on the way.
It is nothing more than an image that is currently making the hearts of FC 25 players beat faster. It shows a man with outstretched arms, looking up at the sky. He almost seems to be looking at the logo of the latest football simulation from EA SPORTS. On the back of the blue and white striped jersey, he wears the iconic number 10, his head is adorned with dark hair. Football fans know immediately: it is Diego Maradona.
The Argentine superstar and national hero is obviously about to return to the EA SPORTS game series. The post on the official social media accounts for FIFA 25 can hardly be interpreted any other way than with the accompanying text “February 14”. Is the hand of God reaching for the hearts of players on Valentine’s Day?
FIFA-22-Aus after legal dispute
At least the Vancouver-based development studio would otherwise have little reason to show the 1986 world champion. After all, he had disappeared from the game in FIFA 22 and has not reappeared since.
The reason for this was a legal dispute with the heirs of the noble technician who had recently passed away. They had asserted copyrights to Maradona’s likeness and successfully sued in court against the existing contract between EA SPORTS and Maradona’s friend and manager Stéfano Ceci.
Despite the uncertainties: the community is in ecstasy
The community doesn’t seem to care about the exact conditions. There is enthusiasm. It didn’t take three quarters of an hour for the developer and publisher’s announcement post to reach 100,000 likes. And the comments also agree. “He’s back,” says content creator ‘chuboi’ happily among the replies, while the official account of the database FUTBIN reacts with a GIF from the sitcom “The Office”. “Oh my God! Okay, it’s happening!” it says.
However, it is not only unclear how an agreement between the developer and the rights holders came about. EA SPORTS is also being cryptic in other ways. Except for the reference to next Friday, when the left-footed player will probably return to the football simulation in the course of the upcoming promo, there is no information. The developer also did not comment on similar rumors about Franz Beckenbauer.
However, one thing seems clear: the Argentine’s FUT items will be expensive. After all, between his presentation in FIFA 18 and his departure from FIFA 22, they were among the best-rated and therefore most coveted icon items in the series. It’s hard to imagine that the hype surrounding his return will diminish this.
