Diego Maradona returns to EA Sports FC 25 this week, three years after his removal from the series

Diego Maradona is set to make his long-awaited return to EA Sports FC 25 on February 14, three years after being removed from the game due to a legal dispute. The legendary Argentinian footballer was pulled from the series, formerly known as FIFA, back in March 2022.

EA has not yet disclosed how Maradona will be available in the game, but it’s highly likely that he will feature in Ultimate Team as a top-tier Icon, expected to be one of the most highly rated and rarest players.

The original removal stemmed from a legal battle over Maradona’s likeness rights. In 2021, an Argentinian court ruled that EA had negotiated with the wrong party, signing an agreement with Stefano Ceci, Maradona’s former manager, who was found to have no legal authority to make such deals. Meanwhile, Maradona’s lawyer Matias Morla claimed that the rights to the ‘Diego Armando Maradona’ brand had been granted to his company, Sattvica, before the footballer’s death. However, Maradona’s daughters contested this in court, leading to a prolonged legal dispute.

During his absence from the EA Sports franchise, Maradona remained a playable character in Konami’s eFootball series, although details of Konami’s rights agreement were never fully clarified.

With the legal issues seemingly resolved, Maradona’s return to EA Sports FC 25 is set to be a significant moment for fans, bringing one of football’s most iconic players back to the digital pitch.