February 10th 2025.
Are you excited to see him make a comeback? After nearly three years of absence, the legendary Diego Maradona will finally be added back to the popular sports game, EA Sports FC 25.
Back in 2022, EA surprised fans when they removed the Argentine player and manager from FIFA 22. The reason given was a "third-party legal dispute," but it was later revealed that EA had not properly secured the rights to Maradona's likeness. However, the company expressed their hope to bring him back into the game and now, after three sequels and a rebranding to EA Sports FC, that hope is finally becoming a reality.
So when exactly will we see Maradona in EA Sports FC 25? According to a recent post on the EA Sports FC 25 X account, he will be added to the game on February 14. While no further details have been provided, fans are eagerly anticipating his return, as he was known for his impressive stats in the game.
Just to refresh your memory, EA initially believed they had permission to use Maradona's likeness from his former manager. However, it was later discovered that the manager did not hold the rights. To make things even more confusing, there was a legal battle going on between two other parties – Maradona's lawyer and his heirs – over who actually owned the rights following his passing in 2020.
Apparently, a company owned by Maradona's lawyer had tried to claim ownership of the Maradona trademark, but this was cancelled by his heirs and the European Union Intellectual Property Office due to insufficient documentation. The company then appealed to the General Court of the European Union, but their appeal was rejected in November 2023. This means that EA has most likely been negotiating with Maradona's heirs to regain the likeness rights, although they have not disclosed any details about the process.
This is definitely good news for both EA and fans, but it may not completely solve the company's recent financial struggles. EA's CEO, Andrew Wilson, recently admitted that EA Sports FC 25 did not perform as well as expected, but he remains optimistic for the future. In fact, EA Sports FC 25 was the best-selling game in the UK last year, so things are definitely looking up.
If you have any thoughts about Maradona's return, make sure to email us, leave a comment, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter. And for those who want to submit letters and features, our Submit Stuff page makes it easier than ever.
In other news, physical game sales in the UK have dropped in 2024, but EA Sports FC 25 still managed to top the charts. And if you're looking for a more enjoyable football game, one reader believes that Sociable Soccer is the way to go. Finally, EA has acknowledged that their latest Dragon Age game did not perform as well as they had hoped, but they believe their upcoming live service games will turn things around.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
