eFootball PES 2020 cover stars revealed

The Pro Evolution Soccer series has always lived idly in the shadow of its cool big brother, FIFA, but this year it seems to be making moves to increase it's reputation in the gaming world. They've formed official partnerships with Manchester United, Juventus, FC Barcelona and FC Bayern, with FIFA now not even being allowed to call Juventus by their name – they will be called Piemonte Calcio in FIFA 20.

Regardless of which game is bigger, it's a big honour for any player to become a cover star for a video game, and today eFootball PES 2020 revealed theirs, with Lionel Messi, Serge Gnabry, Miralem Pjanic and, arguably the greatest of them all, Manchester United's very own Scott McTominay.

Of course, as soon as it was revealed, all eyes were drawn to McTominay who is arguably the standout player in this lineup, for better or for worse. Though a promising prospect, he's not exactly a world-beater or had an outstanding season like his peers. Nonetheless, Twitter took to the announcement and had some very clear thoughts on this move.

Of course, there's a perfectly valid reason for "McSauce" to be on the cover of PES 2020; he is now an eFootball PES ambassador following a long-term partnership between Konami and Manchester United, which sees the team's likenesses, badge, name and kits all officially certified to feature within the game.

Konami and PES have clearly been making major strides for their upcoming season, and will now be hoping that they can begin to challenge FIFA as the ultimate football simulator. There's a long way to go, but if they can keep improving their gameplay and partnering with the world's biggest clubs, it's not an impossibility.

I just feel like they missed a trick not making it an all-Manchester United cover. McTominay, Lingard, Young, Matic – it would be perfect.

eFootball PES 2020 is set for release on September 10, 2019 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.