FIFA 22 could become the first entry in EA Sports‘ longstanding franchise to feature an Ultimate Team ‘Icon’ with two different nationalities, according to reports.
EA Sports’ successor to the widely popular FIFA 21 has not been officially announced, but FIFA 22 content has been leaked online via the private beta.
However, fans of the FIFA franchise could expect to see more on the upcoming title at EA Play Live, which will kick off on 22nd July at 6pm BST.
EA Play Live is only a month away! Watch our pre-show July 22nd starting at 10AM PT/1PM ET, followed by the main showcase. See you then. 👋 pic.twitter.com/1PZ5IXRYeP
— Electronic Arts (@EA) June 22, 2021
The FIFA publisher is likely to add a whole new batch of legendary players to its ever-growing Icons roster on the fan-favourite Ultimate Team mode.
And one of the latest leaks suggested that Manchester United hero Park Ji-sung and Dutch icon Wesley Sneijder were among nine new Icons coming to FIFA 22.
Now, Twitter user FUTZone tweeted out an image showcasing Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano with three different Ultimate Team Icon cards.
However, the legendary Argentine-born former player’s lowest- and highest-rated versions of his cards have him representing Argentina.
The low-rated version has a 90 overall rating and is a left forward, while Di Stefano’s top-rated card has a whopping 96 rating and is a centre-forward.
Possibly the first Icon to have 2 Nations in a FIFA game 👀🇪🇸🇦🇷#FIFA22 pic.twitter.com/1LqgqV2piD
— FUTZone | #FIFA22 News (@FUTZONECENTRAL) June 30, 2021
But Di Stefano’s middle card is a 93-rated striker featuring the red and yellow stripes of Spain.
FUTZone wrote in its tweet: “Possibly the first Icon to have [two] Nations [sic] in a FIFA game.”
Di Stefano left Colombian side Millonarios in 1953 and moved to Spain where he would eventually sign for Madrid amid a heated transfer dispute with Barcelona.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner lifted eight top-flight Spanish league titles and an incredible five European Cups during his remarkable playing career at Madrid.
Di Stefano, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, represented Argentina, Colombia and Spain on the international stage.
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| Credit: PA |
According to FUT Watch, new FIFA 22 teams and leagues have been added to the current FIFA 21 code.
And a new batch of potential Icons for the upcoming FIFA title have emerged, which includes the likes of Cafu, Antonio Di Natale and Tim Cahill.
- Cafu
- Abedi Pele
- Antonio Di Natale
- Jerzy Dudek
- Ivan Cordoba
- Joe Cole
- Robbie Keane
- Tim Cahill
- Aleksandr Mostovoi
- Fernando Cavenaghi
Abedi Ayew Pele played for all the seemingly random clubs that got added to the code today 🤔
— FUT Watch (@FutWatch) June 29, 2021
FIFA 22 is expected to launch in either September or early October, according to reports.
EA Sports’ next instalment in the series will likely come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia.
Featured Image Credit: EA Sports/Twitter