Fresh off winning the World Cup Golden Boot, it comes as no surprise that Kylian Mbappe has reclaimed the spotlight as the cover star of EA FC 27.
EA has announced French footballer and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe as the cover star for EA FC 27, marking his fourth appearance on the series’ cover and his first since the series rebranded from FIFA to EA FC.
Kylian Mbappe first graced the cover of the iconic football video game franchise with FIFA 21, followed by FIFA 22–both during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. He then returned as the cover star for FIFA 23, still under PSG, featured alongside Australian and Chelsea Women forward Sam Kerr. Mbappe now returns for EA FC 27, this time wearing the Real Madrid shirt.
Currently, the announcement on social media previews only the Ultimate Edition cover, but more will be shown including content and gameplay via the Official Reveal Trailer, which is set to premiere on 23 July.
EA FC 27
Release date: 25 September 2026 (21 September for Early Access)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Electronic Arts (EA)
Who is Kylian Mbappe?
The selection comes as no surprise. Mbappe is fresh off winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot with France after scoring a remarkable 10 goals, overtaking Argentina's Lionel Messi (8 goals) and England's Jude Bellingham and Norway's Erling Haaland (both with 7).
His tally brought several remarkable milestones, especially at just 27 years of age. The 10 goals he scored at this year's World Cup increased his all-time tournament tally to an unprecedented 22 goals, surpassing Messi's previous record of 21. He also became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice, having previously claimed the award in 2022. In addition, he became the first player to score 10 goals in a single World Cup tournament since Germany's Gerd Müller achieved the feat in 1970.
However, his clinical finishing had been evident long before the World Cup, with an impressive club campaign that included 25 La Liga goals and 15 more in the UEFA Champions League. He enjoyed an outstanding individual season, though Real Madrid itself yielded a disappointing campaign, with no trophies earned.
Who has appeared on the most FIFA/EA FC covers?
Throughout the history of FIFA and EA FC, only a handful of footballers have appeared on the cover multiple times. By becoming the cover star for EA FC 27, Mbappe is now the third most-featured player in the franchise's history, tying with Lionel Messi on four cover appearances.
England's Wayne Rooney holds the record with seven consecutive covers, all during his time at Manchester United, from FIFA 06 to FIFA 12. He is followed by Brazil's Ronaldinho, who appeared on the covers of FIFA Football 2004 and FIFA 06 through FIFA 09 while representing FC Barcelona and AC Milan.
Lionel Messi appeared on the covers of FIFA 13 through FIFA 16, all during his time at FC Barcelona. Mbappe now joins him on four front-cover appearances.
EA FC 27 launches on 25 September, 2026 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Ultimate Edition owners will receive eight days of Early Access.
