There is no doubting the astounding technological advance of video game graphics in the last 20 years.
However, not every iteration of a game brings a seismic leap forward - especially in the realm of sports. While most franchises have the luxury of years to develop the new model, EA Sports have less than 12 months before releasing the next version of their FIFA series to keep up with the unrelenting football calendar.
After a split from the game's governing body, EA Sports' latest concoction is now going by the clunky moniker EA FC 24. Not only has the name changed but the traditional cover photo of one or two superstars has been binned as well.
As many as 31 players - from the past and present - have been squeezed onto the cover of the game's Ultimate Edition. Yet, some of these global icons have been harder to identify than others.
For the avoidance of doubt, here's a rundown of every individual to have their likeness digitally rendered on the front cover.
Every player on EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Edition cover
Front row (from left to right)
Scanning along the front row, most players have come out of the digitisation relatively unscathed. Reigning Ballon d'Or holder Alexia Putellas (third from the left) doesn't usually wear her hair in a bun and Virgil van Dijk (fourth from the left) is a little bulky but Alexander Isak (far left) and Son Heung-min (centre) look life-like.
The same - fortunately for the player - cannot be said of Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez (bottom right), who has been lumbered with the gormless grin and bowl cut of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber.
Second row
Gucci brand ambassador Leah Williamson (third from the right) does not come out of many photoshoots with the haunting glare that she is carrying on the FC 24 cover.
PSG skipper Marquinhos (second from the right) has been treated even more harshly by the presumably hurried rendering, leaving the Brazilian centre-back with one eye considerably larger than the other.
Third row
While the designers at EA managed to capture David Beckham's chiselled features, they have struggled to accurately represent the likeness of other former players included in the cover of their latest game.
There are grievances surrounding the representations of Mia Hamm, Johan Cruyff and Alex Scott (the first three from the left) but a melting Ronaldinho (fourth from the left) sticks out like his waggling thumb and little finger.
Boca Juniors icon Juan Roman Riquelme (third from the right) is also skirting dangerously close to cross-eyed.
Fourth row
Andrea Pirlo was famously unflappable in the face of pressure on a football pitch but looks like he's seen untold evils in the top right of the above image. Bukayo Saka (second from the right) is cheerier than Pirlo but unfortunately bears little resemblance to the Arsenal winger.
The graphic designers seem to have lost their way with the hair of the three icons in the back row. Zinedine Zidane scarcely had that much scalp coverage while he was playing for Real Madrid and Pele has been given an extra inch of volume to go with his unnaturally long arm. Although, Rudi Voller's accurate mullet has just aged poorly.
Reaction to EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Edition cover
The immediate reaction to the new cover was scathing, to say the least. The word "janky" was thrown around with some ruder alternatives regularly interspersed with widespread mockery.
However, not every onlooker gave in the base reflex of ridicule.
On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss Man Utd closing in on Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, Chelsea's push for Moises Caicedo, Dusan Vlahovic, Romeo Lavia, the future of Real Madrid's Federico Valverde & more!
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This article was originally published on 90min as Identifying every player on EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Edition cover.
