World's Best Player Joins World's No. 1 Selling Sports Videogame
Franchise*
Messi To First Appear On Cover Of FIFA Street In March 2012
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that EA SPORTS™ has
signed the world's top soccer player, Barcelona and Argentina superstar
Lionel Messi, to a multi-year endorsement contract that will see him
become the global face of the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer franchise. The
biggest transfer deal this season sees the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010 winner
transfer to EA SPORTS and make his debut in March, 2012 on the cover of FIFA
Street.
"Our FIFA franchise is the number one selling sports videogame franchise
in the world, and Lionel Messi is the number one player in the world, so
this agreement is a true partnership of superstars," said Matt Bilbey,
Vice President and GM of Soccer, EA SPORTS. "With Messi on our team we
have the world's best and most exciting player to help EA SPORTS
maintain its global leadership in the years ahead."
"I want to be part of the team behind the best sports game in the world
and be associated with the great EA SPORTS name," said Messi. "EA SPORTS
is a brand that shares my values of creativity, excellence and social
responsibility."
Playing for FC Barcelona, Messi received the prestigious FIFA Ballon
d'Or 2010 award as the top soccer player in the world, was UEFA
Champions League Top Goal Scorer the past three years, is the three-time
La Liga Player of the Year, and has made the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA
Ballon d'Or. At just 24, Messi has scored over 200 goals in all
competitions and currently sits second in the rankings of Barcelona's
all-time leading goal scorers. He has scored 27 goals and 14 assists in
29 games this season in all competitions.
The multi-faceted partnership will see Messi become an EA SPORTS
Ambassador. He will become the cornerstone of marketing and advertising
campaigns, featured on packaging, and utilized in social media
activities around the world for the critically acclaimed FIFA Soccer
franchise. EA SPORTS will also team up with the Leo Messi Foundation to
support social, educational and health care related initiatives for
children around the world.
The EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer series, now in its 19th year, sold
a record-breaking 3.2 million copies of FIFA Soccer 12 in the
first five days after launching to become the biggest launch in the
history of sports videogames.
EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the
world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive
technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital
experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports
through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden
NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM
basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA
SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA
SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news,
video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com
to connect, share and compete.
*Based on units sold world-wide as of July 25, 2011 (via NPD,
Chart-track, GFK & Famitsu Marketing Data Service)
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) is a global leader in digital interactive
entertainment. The Company's game franchises are offered as both
packaged goods products and online services delivered through
Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and
tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in
75 countries.
In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion.
Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for
critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The
Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass
Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.
EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks
of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International
(Studio and Publishing) Ltd. John Madden, NFL, NCAA, Tiger Woods, PGA
TOUR and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with
permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50083994&lang=en
Electronic Arts Inc.
Steve Frost, 604-456-5067
Manager,
Communications
sfrost@ea.com
Colin
Macrae, 604-456-3685
Sr. Director, Communications
cmacrae@ea.com
David
Tinson, 650-628-5189
VP, Communications
dtinson@ea.com
Source: Electronic Arts Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media