When Joao "jafonsogv" Vasconcelos was growing up, he dreamed of pulling on the jersey of a world-famous football club. But like many of us, he knew that becoming a professional athlete on the pitch was a long shot. Instead of giving up on that dream, he found a new way to live it—through the virtual pitch of EA FC.
Today, Vasconcelos isn't just a top-tier esports competitor; he's a two-time champion wearing the iconic sky blue of Manchester City. Alongside his teammate Matias "Bonanno" Bonanno, he has helped the club secure an unprecedented three straight ePremier League titles. This weekend, the duo heads to the eChampions League in Manchester, where they'll face off against 35 other top teams from across Europe, with the finals set to take place in Budapest—the same city hosting the real-life Champions League final.
"I always wanted to be a football player. I couldn't have made it," Vasconcelos said. "Esports gave me the door. I could realize these dreams of representing such big clubs as Man City."
Manchester City's investment in its esports team mirrors the support given to its traditional athletes. The club provides coaches, sports psychologists, and top-tier training facilities to help players like Vasconcelos and Bonanno perform at their peak. This holistic approach has paid off: the pair not only won the ePremier League title for the third consecutive year on March 30, but they also secured qualification for the EA FC World Championships at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this July.
"Three in a row is crazy," Bonanno said. "It's the same feeling as the first time for me, because always in these three seasons, we had to win for the spots in Champions League and more championships."
The ePremier League features all 20 Premier League clubs, each fielding their own esports roster. With a £100,000 prize pool on the line, the competition is fierce—and Manchester City's dominance shows just how seriously traditional clubs are taking the virtual game. As Vasconcelos puts it, "When you start competing, you don't even imagine reaching this level or representing such a big club as Man City. The experience has been really cool."
For fans of both football and gaming, this is a reminder that the passion for the sport—whether on grass or on screen—is the same. And for those looking to channel their own inner champion, the right gear can make all the difference, whether you're playing in the stadium or from your living room.