Alas after 23 years, David Beckham is officially at the front cover of the FIFA series. The last time he was featured was back in FIFA's PlayStation 1 days with the release of their “Road to World Cup 98,” edition.
This also marks his official return to the FIFA series as part of the icons, confirming his partnership with EA Sports. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy superstar was introduced as part of the icons alongside other new entries featuring Eric Cantona, Fernando Torres, Xavi, and Ferenc Puskas. His last appearance as a player, prior to his arrival in FIFA 21 took place in FIFA 13 where he was still playing for the Galaxy.
He'll officially be a part of the FIFA Ultimate Team roster by December 2020. Fans of the series will receive a special version of him in the Ultimate Team on January 15, 2021.
Beckham's status as a global soccer icon can be an integral aspect in selling the next generation versions of the game. His introduction can also be a potential game changer in the esports scene as his signature crosses and long range passes can add a new dimension in a team's offense. His curling efforts from free kicks could entice players to use him in tournaments.
Beckham's arrival isn't the only change that will take place on December as the developers admitted that their release of the next generation versions of the game will feature a more refined graphical detail of the players as well as a dual entitlement feature to accommodate fans from the previous console generations. Beckham's addition could open the door for other legends who have yet to be featured in the game to make their appearance.