How do you get a pro player card in EA?
Obtaining a coveted professional player item in FIFA, Madden, NHL, or other EA Sports titles is a rare privilege tied to real-world football/sports stardom. By meeting certain criteria and catching the eye of EA developers, players can unlock 99-rated virtual versions of themselves with special designs, boosted attributes, and exclusive perks.
But how does the process actually work? And what‘s behind the recent pro card craze across EA games? Let‘s break it down!
Demystifying EA‘s Pro Card Requirements
EA has never published formal requirements for athletes to receive a pro player card. But based on private conversations with EA insiders and analysis of past selections, several clear criteria emerge:
Notoriety: Household names or rising sports stars with both mainstream and gaming appeal
On-Field Success: Performance metrics like goals, wins, etc. raising a player‘s real-life rating
Marketability: Sponsorships, social media following and other indicators of popularity
Esports Presence: Engagement with competitive gaming through streaming or events
These point to EA prioritizing those who boost publicity and provide promotional value across the virtual/real divide. Meeting one or more criteria gets you on their radar.
By the Numbers: Pro Cards Continue Explosive Growth
Pro player items originated within the FIFA franchise but are expanding faster than ever:
250+ footballers received FIFA 23 pro cards
Up from ~50 in FIFA 22 and only a handful before
30+ NFL stars got 99-rated Madden 23 "master items"
First NHL pro card promotions planned for NHL 23
Card growth mirrors explosion of the wider esports industry, expected to top $200 billion soon according to Morgan Stanley.
Real-World Benefits Beyond Just Ratings Boost
While flashy 99 stats understandably get attention, pro cards confer a variety of in-game and real-world perks:
| Perk | Description |
|---|---|
| Custom Models/Animations | Cards mimic player faces, kits, hair, play styles and more |
| Exclusive Content | Athlete-inspired FUT kits, tifos, stadium customs and other cosmetics |
| Promotional Events | Special live streams, capture sessions, tournaments, etc. with EA |
| Digital Collectibles | Select players get limited-run NFT card partners via NBA Top Shot-style deals |
| Esports Sponsorships | Organizations sign footballers to compete in EA-affiliated tournaments |
This expanding slate of benefits makes pro player items coveted no matter what your ultimate team rating is!
Real-Talk: What Pro Players Say About EA Collaborations
Don‘t just take my word for it. Check out what actual athletes granted FIFA pro cards have to say:
"A dream to join EA SPORTS FC and have my own 99-rated card…can‘t wait to get on the pitch as a virtual pro!" – Eden Hazard on Twitter
"Really special to work with @EASPORTSFIFA on my custom animation moves and seeing my virtual card come to life." – Lucy Bronze in interview
Their excitement proves that despite controversies around licensing agreements, most players still relish the chance to partner creatively with EA‘s football gaming juggernaut.
Predictions: Evolution of Pro Cards Far From Over
If recent years are any indication, innovations around pro player items will keep picking up steam:
More Mainstream Marketing: A key focus will be tapping athletes with gaming-focused personal brands for crossover promotions.
Expanded Esports Integration: Competitive events may soon require signing/drafting a certain # of pros to your team.
Hybrid Physical/Digital Releases: I foresee special pro card product releases containing both virtual player packs and autographed real-world athlete memorabilia.
Fan Engagement Opportunities: EA could enable signing up for VIP access, meet-and-greets or other exclusives tied to your favorite footballers‘ pro card campaigns.
As barriers between sports/gaming blur, expect ambassadors with high engagement across both to reap big rewards!
The Burning Debate AroundPlayer Likeness Rights
Even with pro cards gaining so much traction, tensions around EA benefiting from athletes‘ branding and likeness without compensation threatens to boil over.
GLOBAL PLAYER UNION FIFPro nearly sued EA over this issue before a last-minute 2022 deal. And individual stars sound off constantly:
"EA make all this money from using our name and likeness but don‘t share any with us as players! We deserve a cut." – Fikayo Tomori on talkSPORT
"They monopoly the gaming market and control all the rights. Leaves no leverage for players to negotiate fair licensing payments." – David Alaba comments to FIFA+
I predict this leads to collective bargaining efforts from players themselves rather than through clubs/leagues. Once a few big names get on board, it could kickstart a major reworking of how EA compensates athletes.
Tips for Footballers Hoping To Secure Their Own Cards
Very few will ever join icons like Mbappe or Haaland with personalized EA Sports pro cards. But as an ambitious footballer, several strategies improve your odds of being selected someday:
Grind competitive modes/leaderboards: Top Weekend League finishes in FIFA catch EA‘s algorithmic eye
Stream EA matches on Twitch: Build an audience playing Madden, NHL, etc. and engage directly with developers in chat
Attend EA-sponsored esports events: From tourneys to open capture sessions, visibility is invaluable
Tag EA accounts showcasing your gaming skills: Whether celebration clips, insane goals or trick plays, showcase your dual ability
Pester your agent daily about opportunities: They can liaison official sponsorship talks with EA through club channels
Landing a pro card is gaming‘s highest individual honor. Follow the blueprint above to manifest your dreams of joining 99 overall icons!
