Why won't Barcelona's Lamine Yamal be in EA Sports FC 24?

Alejandro Soto LAMINE YAMAL The Barcelona wonderkid won't appear in EA Sports' new soccer sim LEFT OUT OF EA SPORTS FC 24

[{"selector":"#anim-54dc578d-ce8c-4744-9cf0-b4af6dde5a16","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-447e4191-1805-4290-a801-7426059977b9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.886363423295453%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Lamine Yamal won’t feature in EA Sports FC 24, the eagerly-awaited first instalment of the successor to the FIFA series of soccer sims.

[{"selector":"#anim-3f152439-74a4-4519-9b43-85d0fce79bae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2b51235-0c12-430e-996c-ec7bf60e81ee [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.684931506849315)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] The 16-year-old winger has enjoyed a meteoric rise, establishing himself as a regular for Barcelona and earning his debut for the senior Spain team.

[{"selector":"#anim-343372c9-e652-485b-b1cd-79cdc5e90215","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.40015%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-908b27d3-6050-477c-b8f5-8dd9d2acaab4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Lamine Yamal’s early emergence as an elite soccer star is the reason behind his absence from EA Sports FC 24, which is due to be released this week.

[{"selector":"#anim-bbe1127e-2417-440c-aa6e-c95936ee66af","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a23cb73c-fd07-45a5-9367-2ba49ae0a829 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.721590719294735%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The video game’s creators, EA Sports, haven’t included the youngster in their database because he’s still under 17.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec2bd2ca-70b7-4e28-998a-40efa9282baa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-115ba5ac-4d20-411b-8360-c7c9230240ad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.746268656716418)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] The same happened to another Barça starlet, Ansu Fati, in 2019. He wasn’t added to FIFA 20 until months after the game’s launch, having finally turned 17.

[{"selector":"#anim-abef9573-d56b-40cf-ba0e-8ccaeaceaaa0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79d6106a-73ba-4b12-94be-7df8b3395957 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.886363423295453%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Given he’s one of world soccer’s most exciting talents, Lamine Yamal’s absence from EA Sports FC has caused real disappointment among gamers.

[{"selector":"#anim-887a36fc-14fb-4ac6-8f45-86497811d012","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a301b844-952e-43d0-a1e3-336d8793a34d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] The teenager’s excellent early displays at soccer’s top level would surely have seen him earn an impressive set of player ratings.

[{"selector":"#anim-3f31152f-ee79-4161-8fd1-022bfe4bf22c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ce95870-7ca3-44fa-80cd-60d2207fe9c6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(24.25754736445107%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Nevertheless, fans of the FIFA franchise are awaiting the release of EA Sports FC 24 with bated breath. It drops on Friday 29 September.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1b121d2-b455-425b-bb4c-3ab3b6102913","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33bf5d4f-0452-4eb0-a5dd-19747dc7a26c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The game has been rebranded after EA Sports’ three-decade partnership with FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, came to an end this year.