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Lionel Messi to be featured on cover of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 photo

Okay, I’m going back to calling it “soccer,” since both EA and Konami are doing so. Anyway, on the virtual soccer pitch, the two main combatants are EA’s FIFA Soccer series and Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer games. FIFA 09 was announced over a month ago, and now Konami has responded by bringing out the first screenshots of this year’s iteration in their vaunted soccer series, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009.

The cover will feature Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, of FC Barcelona. Messi, who co-FIFA Player of the Century Diego Maradona has called his “successor,” is the youngest player ever to compete in the Spanish Professional Football League. He led Barça to the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League title, and was named by SI Latino as its World Player of the Year last year. I find it slightly depressing that this soccer star is 7 months younger than I am.

My brother swears by the FIFA games, but I’ve met many other people who can’t get enough of the fantastically accurate sim gameplay of the Pro Evo series. If you fall in the latter group, you might be interested to know that PES 2009 will be out this fall for the PS3, 360, PS2, PC, and PSP. Yes, you read right -- it looks like Wii owners won’t have any options except FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play.

Hit the jump for the full PR, and the gallery below for five screens along with two promotional photos and an in-game render of Messi.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2009

World's Best-Selling Soccer Video Game Franchise Coming This Fall To The PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360®, PC-DVD, PlayStation®2, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system

Argentinean Forward Lionel Messi To Be Face Of The Latest Edition Of The World's Best-Selling Soccer Video Game Series

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - August 5, 2008 GOOOOOALLLL! Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced it will release Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 in North America for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and PC DVD-ROM. Slated for a fall 2008 release, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 combines the attention to detail that has been the series' hallmark with extensive new additions that are certain to cement the franchise's reputation as the world's definitive soccer title for any format.

Known by millions of fans for its superior gameplay and incredible realism, PES 2009 will further bridge the gap between PES and the real thing. The game has undergone a stunning graphical update to ensure its players look more like their real-life counterparts. Similarly, all-new options allow users to tailor the game to their own tastes, while new stylish moves, innovative control schemes and key online elements further the realism.

Adding to the authenticity, Argentinean forward Lionel Messi will be the face of the latest version of the multi-million selling Pro Evolution Soccer series. Regarded as one of the most exciting talents of the modern game, the 21-year-old is a ever-present fixture on both the Argentinean national team and his club team, FC Barcelona. Having played for Argentinean and Spanish youth reserve teams since he was five, Messi ultimately became the youngest player ever to compete in the top Spanish league during October 2004. Since then, he has led FC Barcelona to the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League title, was named SI Latino's World Player of the Year in 2007, and has been runner-up to prestigious awards including the France Football Player of the Year, and the World Soccer Footballer of the Year. As part of the deal, Messi will appear on the packaging and point-of-sale materials for Pro Evolution Soccer 2009.

"Most modern players are aware of the realism and skill of the Pro Evolution Soccer series," commented Messi. "It is a game that truly mirrors the pace and control of real football, and as a die-hard fan of the series, I am delighted to be working with Konami on the latest version."

"Pro Evolution Soccer has always been the game of choice for soccer enthusiasts due to its ultra realism and superior gameplay and there is no player in the world more suited to be on the box than the talented forward from Barcelona, Lionel Messi," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment. "Lionel is one of the most exciting and accomplished players in the world and we look forward to working very closely with him to promote the most advanced PES title ever developed."

PES 2009 will be released for PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, Xbox 360®, PC-DVD, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) in Autumn 2008.

LAUNCH GALLERY (8 IMAGES)
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Samit Sarkar is a founding Destructoid editor and go-to Sports guy. Samit was the son of the Duke of Knees, rescued from a burning village in the afghan desert by a golden condor. He is an ace Backgammon player and lost both legs in a whaling tour. He lives for free in a nursery in Scotland where he teaches monks how to capture butterflies without hurting them. Likes Confuse Ray, Feel My Blade A Mabari War Hound, Snot, Spiral Arrow, Argo, Dan Smith's critical hit bark, Rolling things up into my life Meet the rest of the team



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32 comments | showing # 1 to 32
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Joseph Leray's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 20:38
Joseph Leray
The last person Messi should emulate is Maradonna. Have you seen the guy lately? He's the only fat coke addict I've ever heard of.
DonWii's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 20:42
DonWii
PES 2009 is coming to Wii, but it will once again be delayed until Spring 09.

It will then go on to sell less than the other versions, since everyone PES fan who wanted the game probably already got it months before.

Konami will once again push the Wii version of PES 2010 away from the other SKU's, and the process repeats.
peeetah's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 20:43
peeetah
One thing I love about PES is the little pieces of badly translated broken English that can be found around the menus. I'd love it if they would do away with the typically awful commentary and have a couple of first year Japanese English students to do the job instead.
CrudeDarkness's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 20:46
CrudeDarkness
IT'S CALLED FOOTBALL GOD DAMN IT!!!
bleep's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 20:58
bleep
Well I'm sure this will sell well....IN EUROPE
Gong's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 21:05
Gong
PES is fantastic while FIFA is thoroughly unplayable-- the controls are so shoddy and riddled with useless actions :/
harelo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 21:29
harelo
I hate Maradona (And I'm Argentinean!!!)

But Messi is a star, truly amazing
Brian Szabelski's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 21:33
Brian Szabelski
Messi is trying to emulate Maradona? LOL, I can't wait to see him living in the gutter in 5 years.
Mooley's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 21:54
Mooley
"My brother swears by the FIFA games, but I’ve met many other people who can’t get enough of the fantastically accurate sim gameplay of the Pro Evo series."

Laughably false nowadays. The tables turned with 08, Pro Evo being the terrible arcade monstrosity and EA following the sim route to great avail. PES2009 will not even compete with FIFA09, trust.
parrothead's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 22:03
parrothead
FIFA has all the club teams and the players, while Winning 11 may be a little better game play, I think I will go with FIFA. I think EA has brainwashed me into buying all their products
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 22:08
GuitarAtomik
Who got selected for what now?
pendelton21's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 22:56
pendelton21
Who cares? TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL...THE REAL FOOTBALL!!!
TheDreadHawk's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 23:20
TheDreadHawk
Yes, soccer's awesome.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 23:27
mistic
Well I'm sure this will sell well....IN EUROPE

QFT :-)

I always likes PES better then FiFa :-)
MATTFOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/06/2008 23:51
MATTFOO
Welcome back Samit.
bmdubya's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 00:11
bmdubya
FIFA '09 is gonna be amazing this year. That is all I'm gonna say. Not saying PES is a POS, but FIFA is gonna rock socks off this year.
moocow21's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 00:32
moocow21
I used to enjoy FIFA but haven't bought one since FIFA '96. A few months back though I picked up PES2007 for Xbox 360 at K-Mart for $10. It's really a fun game to play, especially against my friends. Some of the in depth controls and modes are really confusing though.
Tyrian3's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 02:16
Tyrian3
Last year PES was awful. The Wii version coming in spring is a disgrace, because it won't have updated teams with the January transfers (like last year) and be already "old". At least I hope this year they'll add the edit mode!
And they should add the classic controller support too, I think it would sell better giving the player the option to choose which control scheme to use.
PS: nice friendly match yesterday with Man U! *handshake with every Man U supporter here*
hoezee's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 02:43
hoezee
Screw Messi and WE (PES). Do something new with the franchise.
I swear each one is like a patch for the last one.
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 02:54
Justice
THIS IS THE REAL FOOTBALL!
Erm Messi is a pretty crappy choice I think, and @Orcist Maradona lost quie a bit of that weight last time I saw him.
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 02:56
CALkulon
PES was crap last year, this year will be the first for many that I don't buy it on release, I'll be waiting to see the reviews etc first.

Second point, it's already looking bad - that press release is complete dross. Messi didn't lead Barca to the CL at all, he didn't score once in the campaign, and never featured beyond the second round because of injury. In short, I call PR bullshit.
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 03:00
CALkulon
My bad, he scored once. I still call BS.
Emrah's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 03:11
Emrah
I boycotted PES08, I have a PS3. It was a total disgrace, and a step backwards. The replays were unwatchable, and the dreaded framedrops, all without noticable next-gen look. I would certainly buy it if it had about the same graphics as PS2 PES's, but no, they had to ruin it.
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 03:12
Aurain
If you think being a good footballer is all about scoring goals, You know nothing about football. It's about leading your side to victory, You can't score goals without a good team. And Messi is a great team player, he'll bring assists, he lifts team spirit. If a player has 10 assists, and 5 goals himself, thats 15 goals that could not have happened without that player being on the pitch.

Lionel Messi is a great player due to his ability to lift the team, change the game and score. Crisiano Ronaldo just scores, and only against poor teams. Lionel Messi does the business against anyone.
DV2FOX's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 03:51
DV2FOX
this reminds me of PES2K8's editor's song..."FOOTBALL Soccer! FOOTBALL Soccer!"...

Yea,i guess this will sell really good,if they improve all that was wrong with PES2K8...¬¬..atleast we've got our team's star in the civer^^...aka F.C.Barcelona
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 03:59
CALkulon
@Aurain:

If you read my post properly you'd realise Messi also never played in the QF, SF, or final. Explain to me how that means he could have lead the team to the final.

Also, your logic is crap. If he wasn't on the pitch, someone else would be, and at a club like Barca he's likely to be half decent ;-)

What they should have done is mentioned the mega goal against Getafe, that was immense.
Clance's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 04:08
Clance
Actually, Pro Evo has turned vary arcadey and, for the first time in a long long looooong time, I was converted to Fifa last year. It just so much more about it and this year's Fifa looks even better.

Sorry Konami, but you broke my heart with last years pro. I was so staunch before that.

Lionel Messi is fucking great.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 06:52
Takeshi
I'll buy it the day it comes out. My last Football game was PES'03 so yeah I'm kinda ready for a new one. Do I care who's on the cover? Not at all. Do I care not every name is correct? Not at all. Do I care PES hasn't got fluorecent grass like Fifa? Not at all. Pro Evo here I come.
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 08:07
Aurain
@CALkulon:

I think you'll find Lionel Messi played in both Semis of the Champions League last season and was the most impressive player. If you recall it was billed as the big Ronaldo vs Messi stand-off.

and that Getafe goal was f'ing genius.
metromapper's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 08:41
metromapper
PES 08 for the Wii was by far the best iteration last time due to the controls, and it's not even being released on the Wii this year? Come on!?
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 12:05
CALkulon
@Aurain:

I was talking about 05/06. Much like the article.

To be honest I thought the Man U/Barca games last season were wank, final was infinitely better.
Mooley's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2008 16:29
Mooley
@Takeshi:

You should probably start caring that PES hasn't changed since the last one that you bought, and that FIFA has way more than "fluorescent grass"...good gameplay.
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