FIFA 18: Cristiano Ronaldo stars on the cover with EA Sports also revealing the release date for the anticipated game

CRISTIANO RONALDO has pipped rival Lionel Messi once again as the Real Madrid legend features on the cover of FIFA 18.

It is first time the Portuguese superstar has featured on the cover of the game, with the Barcelona magician appearing on it four times out of the last five years.

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Borussia Dortmund fan favourite Marco Reus ended Messi‘s four consecutive years of being the EA Sports poster boy when he was on the cover for FIFA 17.

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Leaked pictures emerged online earlier but EA Sports have confirmed the news, showing Ronaldo’s face on it holding a football and looking intently at the ground.

He said in a statement: “It is a real pleasure to be on the cover of FIFA 18. It’s a great feeling and I am grateful to have been chosen.”

It’s been without question the greatest year of the 32-year-old’s glittering career – last summer he won the European Championship with Portugal, which was followed by the Ballon d’Or trophy and the inaugural Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

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He then added the FIFA Club World Cup as well as winning his second La Liga title and bagged himself a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 annihilation over Juventus in the Champions League final.

The teaser trailer for FIFA 18 will be released later on today, with gamers already excited at what new features will be in the latest edition, with ‘The Journey’  featuring Alex Hunter returning for a second season as well as the Chinese Super League to be included.

It will be available to buy in shops from September 29.