Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair become first women players to feature on FIFA cover with Messi

US women’s soccer star Alex Morgan has scored a rare goal by being chosen to grace the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA 16 video game, appearing alongside Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, the company announced on Monday. Morgan was one of two women players chosen for the covers of the latest version of the game in North America, with Canadian skipper Christine Sinclair picked for the Canadian market. [caption id=“attachment_2353758” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Alex Morgan with Lionel Messi on the FIFA 16 cover. Image Credit twitter @alexmorgan13[/caption] The decision to have a female presence on the cover comes as the best-selling game introduces women’s teams for the first time. “It is an incredible honor to be one of the first women featured on the cover of EA Sports FIFA,” Morgan said in a statement. “To share the cover with today’s greatest player is surreal.” Morgan was one of the stars of the USA’s superb Women’s World Cup triumph in Canada earlier this month that culminated in a 5-2 thrashing of Japan. Sinclair also hailed the move to honor the women’s game. “This year’s World Cup showcased the unbelievable talent and skill in women’s soccer,” said Sinclair. “To be featured in the game and to promote women’s soccer with Alex is really special and another exciting step for women in sports.” FIFA 16 goes on sale in North America on 22 September.

I’m so honored to be featured on the cover of #FIFA16. Thank you @EASPORTSFIFA! https://t.co/vw73wtfncJ pic.twitter.com/5vp8RLUk1x

— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) July 20, 2015

Such an honour. @EASPORTSFIFA #FIFA16 pic.twitter.com/5bM1hcvDvg

— Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) July 20, 2015

More from Sports

Why Novak Djokovic is moving his family from Serbia as kids start school abroad Boxing legend Hawa Singh’s legacy lives on as Nupur secures India a medal at World Championships

AFP