Football superstar Lionel Messi has been a mainstay cover athlete for Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series of sports games for years now, and we’ve all become accustomed to seeing him on PES boxes year in and out.

So it’s a little surprising that EA has today proclaimed that the internationally recognised and adored player will now grace the cover of an EA Sports title, FIFA Street. Billed as “The biggest transfer of the football season,” EA Sports has announced that Messi will first appear on the cover of FIFA Street in March 2012.

Not only that, but the Barcelona and Argentinian player will become the global face of the EA Sports FIFA franchise as well as an EA Sports Football Amassador, essentially pulling a raspberry at Konami by stealing away its coveted PES cover star.

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

You can watch the announcement trailer for the Messi transfer below:

FIFA Street - Messi Announcement Trailer

If you happen to need some more FIFA Street gameplay for your diet, we can oblige with the video below:

FIFA Street - Gameplay Mash-up trailer

Want to know more about Messi? Here’s some official information for you:

“Playing for FC Barcelona, Messi received the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 award as the top footballer in the world, was UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer the past three years, is the three-time La Liga Player of the Year, and has made the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

“At just 24, Messi has scored over 200 goals in all competitions and currently sits second in the rankings of Barcelona’s all-time leading goal scorers. He has scored 27 goals and 14 assists in 29 games this season in all competitions.”