EA Sports' FIFA video game is promoting its '19 release by "showing how the title empowers football fans to be better than their heroes," according to John McCarthy of THE DRUM. "Champions Rise" from Adam&Eve/DDB features a "star-studded cast" including Kevin De Bruyne, Paulo Dybala, Pep Guardiola, Steven Gerrard, Kylian Mbappé, Alessandro Del Piero, rapper Quavo and NBA player Joel Embiid. It "challenges fans to upstage the world’s best footballers," particularly "urging them to outdo" Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo after the game’s release on Sept 28. The spot was directed by BRTHR through Riff Raff/Passion Pictures and launched on Tuesday. It shows the "far-reaching effects" football has on the media, social, online and in esports, and how moments in the game "can help shape the world around it" (THE DRUM, 9/18). In London, Danny Gallagher reported in the "wide-ranging advert," a group of friends are seen playing as Ronaldo with his new club Juventus, "when suddenly the game becomes very real as the ball smashes through the screen." Neymar and Mbappé then enter proceedings, the latter "challenging one gamer" whether he believes he is "more Mbappe" than himself. Gerrard also makes an appearance from the Champions League punditry studio "before having the limelight stolen by another FIFA gamer" (DAILY MAIL, 9/19).
