I sidste måned dukkede et cover af Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 op hos diverse forretningskæder, og nu bekræfter Konami, at det er Cristiano Ronaldo under et frispark, der får lov at pryde forsiden.

Ronaldo sparker marketingkampagnen i gang, da han har alt, hvad gameplayet drejer sig om i år. Han er billedet for de mange muligheder og forbedringer i PES 2012: Total kontrol både med og uden bold, meget bedre AI og særligt fokus på off-the-ball situationer. Det gør, at du kan sende spillere i dybden eller selv styre en anden spiller.

“With so much emphasis on the movement of players and their individual abilities in PES 2012, we wanted the cover to feature a star known for their ability to change a game with one skillful move and to show that person doing what they do best,” forklarede Jon Murphy, europæisk PES holdleder hos Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “As such, the image features Cristiano shaping to hit the ball: whether to ping a long pass across field, picking out dangerous runs, or creating something out of seemingly nothing. He is the perfect embodiment of everything we have set out to do with the game this year.”

I mellemtiden har Real Madrid-stjernen også udtalt sig om forside tjansen:

“I am flattered that KONAMI has chosen me to be the face of PES 2012, and by their reasoning behind the cover image,” udtrykte Real Madrids nummer 7. “PES 2012 to me is the perfect recreation of football, and truly highlights the way teams work together to create attacks, make space and break down defences. I think anyone that plays it will get a better understanding of the mechanics of football and how players work together. It is never about one player, it is about the team – and PES 2012 demonstrates that better than any other game.”

Cristiano Ronaldo vil være på forsiden af PC, PSP, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 og Wii versionerne af Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, når det udkommer i Europa den 14. oktober.