Here's the cover of FIFA 10: Rooney in the UK, Xavi in Spain

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Finally! We now know who will be on the cover of EA’s FIFA 10. Well, the European versions, at least. In the UK you’ll find Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.

In Germany you’ve got Wayne Rooney and Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger.

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And in Spain you’ve got Barça’s Xavi and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. Why EA wouldn’t put the most expensive player ever*, Cristiano Ronaldo, on the cover, I have no idea. Presumably it’s a rights/money thing.

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I do not know who’ll be on the cover of the U.S. version, since I’m waiting for EA’s little Web site to update. Presumably it’ll have Rooney and an American from the MLS like Alan Gordon or Landon Donovan. Or, if EA really wants to boosts sales of the game here, it should put Lebron James.

Meanwhile, Ronaldinho, a cover athlete from FIFA 09 was last seen partying it up in Barcelona.

I also see that Buraka Som Sistema will be in the game in the form of “Kalemba (Wegue – Wegue).” When I was in Lisbon in February that song was on he radio every two minutes.

Also: why is everyone, save for Benzema, screaming? I smell a meme!

*Actually, I think Real Madrid paid €75 million for Zidane back in 2001, and I’m pretty sure €75 million in 2001 was worth more than £80 million in 2009. Inflation is a pain in the neck.