Messi × eFootball: The Complete Collaboration Story - From PES to “Gracias, Messi”

Lionel Messi and KONAMI's football games have been connected for years, but the relationship has become much bigger than simply putting Messi on a game cover.

From the PES era to the launch of eFootball, Messi has been used across covers, Ambassador Editions, special cards, campaigns and major in-game events. Along the way, KONAMI has also built a wider football universe around him, bringing in players such as Neymar Jr., Luis Suárez and Lamine Yamal.

And now, in September 2026, KONAMI is celebrating Messi's Argentina story with its “Gracias Messi” campaign, giving this long-running collaboration another important chapter. 

So instead of looking at just one Messi card, let's go back to the beginning and look at how Messi and eFootball became one of the biggest player collaborations in football gaming.

• Collaby score -10/10

It Started Before eFootball

To understand Messi's relationship with eFootball, we have to go back to PES.

KONAMI's football series was originally known as Winning Eleven/PES before becoming eFootball. Messi was already one of the most recognisable faces associated with the series during the PES years.

One of the biggest moments came with eFootball PES 2020.

KONAMI's partnership with FC Barcelona had begun in 2016 and was renewed as a Global Partner in 2019. Messi and Ronaldinho were then revealed as the cover stars of eFootball PES 2020. 

Messi appeared on the standard edition while Ronaldinho featured on the LEGEND EDITION, giving the Barcelona partnership a major role in the game's identity.

This was important because KONAMI wasn't simply using Messi as another licensed player.

Messi was becoming part of the identity of the game itself.

2021–2022: Messi Enters the eFootball Ambassador Era

When KONAMI moved from PES to eFootball, the company also changed its approach.

The game became a free-to-play platform, while famous footballers became an increasingly important part of its marketing and Dream Team content.

In September 2021, KONAMI's eFootball 2022 Premium Player Pack included several eFootball ambassadors, including Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. 

Then, during eFootball 2022 Season 2, KONAMI introduced the Premium Ambassador Pack, built around Messi and Neymar.

The packs included a Legendary Player Card with exclusive designs and additional Featured Player Cards. 

Messi × Neymar

The Messi and Neymar connection deserves its own section.

Both players had already shared the pitch at Barcelona, and their real-life relationship made them natural choices for eFootball's Ambassador strategy.

KONAMI repeatedly placed the two together in special campaigns and Ambassador content.

In 2022, the Premium Ambassador Packs were specifically built around Messi and Neymar, with teammates included alongside them. 

Then in 2023, eFootball continued to use both players heavily in campaigns.

During the game's 600-million-download celebration, players could receive a special Show Time Neymar Jr. simply by logging in, while separate events rewarded users for scoring with Neymar or Messi.

It showed how KONAMI was turning real-world football stars into recurring parts of the eFootball experience.

eFootball 2023 Expands the Ambassador Lineup

For eFootball 2023, KONAMI added Bruno Fernandes and Trent Alexander-Arnold to an Ambassador lineup that already included Messi, Neymar Jr. and Takefusa Kubo. 

This was the point where the eFootball collaboration model started becoming much larger.

Instead of having one main football star, KONAMI was building a collection of players from different clubs, countries and generations.

Messi Becomes the Face of eFootball 2024

If there is one chapter that really established Messi's position in the modern eFootball era, it is eFootball 2024.

When KONAMI launched eFootball 2024 in September 2023, it officially announced the continuation of its partnership with Messi.

Messi remained a Global Ambassador, cover star and the face of multiple commercial and in-game campaigns.

KONAMI also introduced:

eFootball 2024: Leo Messi Edition

The edition was named after Messi and included an exclusive Messi Epic card with the new Booster feature, alongside additional players, EXP and eFootball Coins.

This was more than another cover appearance.

Messi had effectively become one of the central faces of the eFootball brand.

The Club Connection

Messi's eFootball story also connects with KONAMI's long-running club partnerships.

FC Barcelona has been particularly important.

The KONAMI × Barcelona partnership dates back to 2016, and the two companies renewed their Global Partner agreement in 2019. 

By eFootball 2024, KONAMI's partner-club lineup included:

• FC Barcelona
• Manchester United
• FC Bayern München
• Inter Milan
• AC Milan
• Arsenal

KONAMI also highlighted its renewed Barcelona partnership when launching eFootball 2024. 

So when Messi appears in eFootball content wearing Barcelona colours, there is a much bigger history behind it.

2024: The MSN Reunion

This might be one of the coolest Messi collaborations in the entire eFootball story.

In November 2024, KONAMI brought back MSN.

• Messi.
• Neymar Jr.
• Luis Suárez.

The legendary Barcelona attacking trio received special Big Time cards in eFootball. 

If players obtained all three, they could recreate the famous linked-arm celebration associated with MSN.

That turned the collaboration into something much more nostalgic.

Lamine Yamal Joins the Story

Then came another interesting connection.

In February 2025, Lamine Yamal officially joined eFootball as a KONAMI brand ambassador. 

The Barcelona and Spain star received exclusive in game content,promotions and a special campaign.

KONAMI's announcement also introduced an Epic Lamine Yamal card, alongside Big Time Neymar Jr. and Epic Takefusa Kubo content.

And suddenly, the eFootball universe had an interesting link between generations.

Messi to Barcelona to Yamal

The connection became even more interesting because Yamal had often been compared with Messi in football discussions.

For eFootball, this gave KONAMI another young global star who could sit alongside its established ambassadors.

2025: Messi and Yamal Together

KONAMI continued expanding its Ambassador strategy.

In 2025, Messi and Yamal appeared together in Ambassador Editions/Packs, with player-selected card designs and additional items. 

This is another important part of the story because it shows how eFootball's collaboration strategy was evolving.

The game wasn't only looking backwards at football legends.

It was combining:

Legends + current superstars + young stars.

2026: Messi × Yamal 

Then came one of eFootball's biggest 2026 campaigns.

In June 2026, KONAMI launched a global in-game campaign inspired by the year's major football festival.

Players could receive Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal for free simply by logging into the game during the campaign period.

The campaign also included Argentina and Spain-related content, eFootball Coins and Selection Contracts. 

September 2026: “Gracias, Messi”

And this brings us to the latest chapter.

KONAMI is currently running its Gracias Messi Campaign, celebrating Lionel Messi's greatest moments with the Argentina national team.

The official campaign runs from September 10 through September 17, 2026 in Japan. Fans are being asked to share their favourite Messi moments using #グラシアスメッシ “#GraciasMessi”.

The campaign also includes a signed Argentina shirt and eFootball Coins as prizes for eligible participants in Japan.

And eFootball's latest Messi content gives the campaign a clear feeling of appreciation rather than simply another promotional release.

That's what makes this chapter different.

we have reached a simple message - the final campaign?

Gracias, Messi