FIFA 22: PSG star Kylian Mbappe confirmed as sole cover star

Paris Saint Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe has been officially confirmed as the new face of the FIFA console games, ahead of the new season.

Mbappe will feature as the sole cover star of the new FIFA 22 offering, which is set to hit stores later in the year, the second time in a row he has fronted the popular video game series.

On Friday the official online accounts of the creators of FIFA football, EA Sports, released a preview in which they told fans they were ‘delighted’ to have Mbappe on board.

PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe has been unveiled as the new cover star of the FIFA 2022 game

The youngster has featured on the promotional material for FIFA games previously, but is now taking the stage front and centre alone.

EA Sports also teased fans by adding: ‘Stay tuned for the game-changing reveal on July 11th.’

Last year, following the first talks which outlined that Mbappe would now be the main face of the franchise, the Frenchman spoke of his pride at being given the top honour. 

Mbappe follows in the footsteps of his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, who used to be the main face

As a young child in Bondy, Mbappe had posters of Ronaldo covering his bedroom walls

He said: ‘Being on the cover of FIFA is a dream come true. From my time at Bondy to Clairefontaine to the World Cup, this marks another big milestone.

‘I’ve been playing this game since I was a kid and I am honored to represent a whole new generation of footballers and be in the same group as many other amazing footballers who I now share this honor with.’

Mbappe will feature on all three editions of FIFA 22, which includes the Standard, Champions and Legends editions of the game.

Previously Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard – who took the cover spot for FIFA 2020 – had been the face of the game after a long period in which living football legend Cristiano Ronaldo fronted the series.

Mbappe replaces Eden Hazard as the new cover star after the Madrid winger’s poor season

Mbappe replaces fellow countryman Zinedine Zidane as the cover star of the Legends Edition

Mbappe, who has made no secret of his idolisation of Ronaldo when he was younger, now follows in the footsteps of his hero. 

Mbappe will also feature on the cover of the ‘ultimate edition’ of the game, which provides a host of hidden extras for dedicated fans. The previous cover star on this iteration was French football legend Zinedine Zidane.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix and Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland will all feature heavily in the in-game menus and other graphics in the game.

The new game is penciled in for a release date on October 9. 

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has also been named as FIFA 22 ambassador for the game