Zlatan Ibrahimović has gone from threatening legal action against EA Sports back in 2020, to becoming the cover star of the latest EA FC 26's Ultimate Edition. It's a character arc so dramatic, it could only happen to a man who once said, "Lions don't compare themselves to humans."
The 43-year-old Swedish icon, who retired in 2023 after a career that produced 496 goals and 203 assists across 827 appearances, has been unveiled as the face of EA Sports' latest football simulation. This represents quite the about-turn from 2020, when Ibrahimović launched a very public broadside against the gaming giant, accusing them of using his name and likeness in FIFA 21 without his consent.
"Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face?" the former Manchester United, Barcelona, and AC Milan striker had thundered on social media, targeting both EA Sports and FIFPro, the international players' union. His tweets carried the sort of righteous indignation typically reserved for referees who dare to book him for dissent.
At the time, Ibrahimović claimed he had no agreement with EA Sports, had received no income from his virtual appearances, and questioned whether he was even a member of FIFPro – suggesting he'd been enrolled "through some weird manoeuvre" without his knowledge. It was vintage Zlatan: dramatic, defiant, and entirely believable coming from a man who once said he didn't need to chase the ball because the ball should chase him.
Fast-forward five years, and it appears all has been forgiven – or perhaps more accurately, all has been properly compensated. EA Sports announced via social media that "you asked. Zlatan is back," presenting the Swedish legend as their Ultimate Edition cover star with the sort of fanfare usually reserved for actual football transfers.
The timing couldn't be more perfect. EA Sports FC 26 is set for global release on 26th September, with pre-orders already available offering early access and exclusive bonuses. The game promises significant gameplay improvements based on fan feedback, though one suspects Zlatan's inclusion wasn't exactly a community request so much as a commercial masterstroke.
Ibrahimović is expected to receive an Icon card – one of the rarest and most coveted items in the game's Ultimate Team mode. Given his most prolific spell came at Paris Saint-Germain, where he netted 156 goals in 180 games, his virtual incarnation is likely to be equally devastating in pixelated form.
Perhaps this is simply the natural order of things being restored. After all, when you're Zlatan Ibrahimović, even your legal disputes are just elaborate negotiations for better terms.
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