EA has pulled off a huge transfer, signing current World Player of the Year Lionel Messi for EA Sports.

The multi-year deal will see him become the global face of the EA Sports FIFA franchise, making his debut on the cover of FIFA Street this coming March.

“Our FIFA franchise is the number one selling sports videogame franchise in the world, and Lionel Messi is the number one player in the world, so this agreement is a true partnership of superstars,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President and GM of Football, EA SPORTS. “With Messi on our team we have the world’s best and most exciting player to help EA SPORTS maintain its global leadership in the years ahead.”

Messi will become the cornerstone of marketing and advertising campaigns, featured on packaging, and utilized in social media activities around the world – as well as becoming an EA Sports Football Ambassador. EA Sports will also team up with the Leo Messi Foundation to support social, educational and health care related initiatives for children around the world.

“I want to be part of the team behind the best sports football game in the world and be associated with the great EA SPORTS name,” said Messi. “EA SPORTS is a brand that shares my values of creativity, excellence and social responsibility.”

We’re not sure what this means for Pro Evolution Soccer however, which has had Messi as the main face of the game for the past few years.