Latest news with #FIFA21
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fans fear both EA Sports FC 26 cover stars have been hit by FIFA curse
Football fans are beginning to worry that the FIFA cover star curse has returned, as both EA Sports FC 26's cover stars are already injured. Although they had already leaked beforehand, the cover stars for EA Sports FC 26 were officially revealed this week, alongside the first details and gameplay footage for the upcoming football game. England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham is once again the main star (having also been on EA Sports FC 25's cover), but he's now joined by former teammate and Bayern Munich player Jamal Musiala. However, in an unfortunate coincidence, both players are currently unable to play football in real life and will be out of action even after EA Sports FC 26 launches on September 26. Despite suffering a shoulder injury in November 2023, Bellingham has continued to play and only recently underwent surgery. In fact, the news of his problems dropped the same day as the EA Sports FC 26 announcement and Bellingham's not expected to return for another four months or so. Aside from being out of the game by the time of EA Sports FC 26's release, he's also expected to miss the start of the 2025-2026 season. As for Musiala, he was injured during the Club World Cup earlier this month, when Bayern Munich played against Paris St-Germain, where he suffered both a broken leg and a dislocated ankle. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. He has since undergone surgery, but this still means he's out of the game and, just like Bellingham, isn't expected to be ready to return until November 2025 at the earliest. While it's unlikely this will have any impact on EA Sports FC 26's sales, the timing is extremely unfortunate from a marketing standpoint, now that the two players EA picked to headline the game are on hiatus. We've already seen some fans suggest the FIFA cover curse is at work. If you're unfamiliar with it, there have been frequent instances of football players who appear on the cover of FIFA (what EA Sports FC used to be called) games suffering misfortunes. It hasn't happened every year and it has not always been injuries (FIFA 21 star, Kylian Mbappé, for instance, went on to score no goals at the UEFA European Championship in 2021), but enough examples have warranted the curse's inclusion on Wikipedia's list of sports related curses. However, Bellingham was injured in late 2023, so EA really should have been aware he'd have to undergo surgery at around this time… not that that stopped the company sticking him on the cover of last year's game too. More Trending For what it's worth, no such misfortunes appears to have befallen Swedish player Zlatan Ibrahimović, who retired in 2023 and graces the cover of EA Sports FC 26's Ultimate Edition. Let's hope he doesn't somehow break any bones in the coming months. Fans of the Madden NFL games (which EA also handles) have their own superstition about that series' covers, believing any player who appears on it is doomed to suffer an injury. In an old 2007 Kotaku interview, the EA Sports' vice president of brand marketing at the time, Chris Erb, revealed that the curse chatter did little to dissuade footballers from asking to appear on the next Madden NFL cover. 'We've spoken to plenty of guys from within the league, and they don't think it's a jinx,' said Erb. 'The players, who we work closely with, they definitely don't think it's a jinx, because they know better than anyone how easy it is to get injured, or to have a bad season.' Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: EA Sports FC 25 costs just £15 in huge PlayStation Store summer sale MORE: Bayern Munich hijack Arsenal's transfer move for £68m star after Jamal Musiala injury MORE: Everyone should play Rematch: the best new football game in years – Reader's Feature
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Diogo Jota death: 10 records that show why he was a special player
Diogo Jota I Credits: X/@piersmorgan Diogo Jota's tragic death in a car crash has left the football world heartbroken. At just 28, the Portuguese forward had already built a remarkable career with Liverpool and the national team. He passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva, only days after celebrating his wedding. Diogo Jota was more than just a talented attacker, he was a player who made things happen on the pitch. Whether it was scoring crucial goals or breaking records, he always left his mark. From his early days in Portugal to becoming a key player at Anfield, Jota's rise was filled with memorable moments. Fans, players, and clubs have all paid tribute, and his legacy will live on through the records he set and the memories he gave. Here's a look at ten standout achievements that show just how special Diogo Jota truly was. 1. Fastest goal by a Liverpool sub in Premier League Diogo Jota scored just 21 seconds after coming off the bench against Nottingham Forest in January 2025. It was the fastest sub goal by a Liverpool player since 2006–07. 🤫🤫🤫 Diogo Jota with a goal just 6 minutes 26 seconds after coming on from the bench ⏱️#LIVFUL — Premier League (@premierleague) December 14, 2024 2. First goal under Arne Slot's management When Arne Slot took over Liverpool, Jota was the first to find the net in his system. It symbolised a new era at Anfield, and Jota made sure his name kicked it off. You'll Never Walk Alone, Diogo Jota 💔. — AS 🇳🇱 (@ArneSlotEra) July 3, 2025 3. Only Liverpool player to score in first four home league games Back in 2020, Jota became the first-ever Liverpool player to score in each of his first four home league matches. A statement starts. This is Diogo Jota's last ever career goal. Rest in peace. ♾️❤️ — EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 3, 2025 4. Scorer of Liverpool's 10,000th goal In October 2020, Jota netted in a Champions League game against Midtjylland. It happened to be Liverpool's 10,000th goal in all competitions, a historic number. 🔴 Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the 10,000th goal in Liverpool's history in all competitions!#UCL — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 27, 2020 5. Scored 10+ goals with head, right foot and left foot Jota joined an elite Premier League group, alongside Haaland and Watkins, by scoring over 10 goals with his head, right foot, and left foot. 6. FIFA eSports #1 ranked player Diogo Jota didn't just shine on the pitch. He also reached #1 on FIFA 21's Champion Leaderboard, showing off his football brain in the virtual world too. "I think it will improve the game" 🎮 Diogo Jota on EA Sports rebranding FIFA to EAFC 👇 — Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) August 7, 2023 7. Liverpool's most efficient finisher in Premier League With a conversion rate of 19.3%, Jota ranked higher than even Mohamed Salah or Luis Suarez in Premier League efficiency for Liverpool. 8. One of the top five sub-goal scorers for Liverpool His bench goals earned him a spot in Liverpool's top five all-time substitute scorers, overtaking names like Divock Origi and Ryan Babel. 9. Helped Liverpool set a 64-game unbeaten streak His headed goal against Leicester played a part in Liverpool's 64-game unbeaten streak at Anfield in the league, a club record. Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last 64 home league games – breaking a club record set in 1981. 👍#UCL — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 22, 2020 10. One of Liverpool's most expensive signings Jota signed for Liverpool in 2020 from Wolves for €44.7 million, making him the 11th most expensive player in the club's history. 3/7/2025 17:34:47
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death has been deported to Somalia
Hasan was handed a minimum of 13-years behind bars and was denied parole last year KILLER DEPORTED Refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death has been deported to Somalia A SOMALIAN refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death outside a school has been deported. Hannad Hasan was given sanctuary in 2001 after fleeing the war-torn African nation. 2 Kiyan Prince was stabbed to death with a penknife in May 2006 Credit: Adweek magazine But just five years later, the thug teen killed QPR youth player Kiyan, 15, after he tried to break up a fight. Hasan, 17, got Kiyan in a headlock and stabbed him through the heart with a penknife in a May 2006 murder in Edgware, north-west London, which horrified Britain. Hasan was handed a minimum of 13-years behind bars and was denied parole last year. The now 35-year-old was flown to Somalia in October 2024. Queens Park Rangers called their ground the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in 2019 after a fan vote over naming rights. The West London championship club reverted to their Loftus Road name three years later. When Hasan was jailed, Judge Paul Worsley said: 'Taking the life of another is always a terrible thing - taking the life of a talented, popular 15-year-old schoolboy who was known to you and who had done you no wrong and had everything to live for defies description.' After the verdict, Mr Prince said the family was 'ecstatic, over the moon' at the sentence. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that we will do everything to make sure they are not free to roam Britain's streets, including removing them from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity. 'Since the election we've removed 4,436 foreign criminals, a 14% increase on the same period 12 months prior.' Not-for-profit KPF is committed to using Kiyan's legacy to combat knife crime and other forms of youth violence. Kiyan Prince's family hail FIFA 21 tribute to QPR teenager on 15th anniversary of tragic death
