Meet Tim Cahill's newest Melbourne City teammate. Marcus Gomes won't set foot on a soccer pitch but will instead represent the A-League club at a different kind of World Cup. A world Cup for video gamers.
City has joined the growing list of Australian sporting organisations to enter the eSports industry by signing Gomes, a Melbourne-based FIFA eSports player.
Gomes, 20, has signed ahead of his trip to London to play in the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final (August 16-18). He will represent Melbourne City at the event as the only Australian player in the 32-competitor field.
The City Football Group, which owns Manchester City, New York City FC and Melbourne City (among other soccer clubs) has now signed three eSports players. Kieran Brown represents Manchester City and Christopher Holly plays FIFA for New York City FC.
"I started playing FIFA 2006 when I was nine, and I never could have imagined that the game would be where it is today, or that I would be signing a professional eSports contract with a club like Melbourne City," Gomes said.
"I have followed City for the last few years and I am really looking forward to wearing the City blue shirt at this year's tournaments."
City chief executive Scott Munn said the signing was crucial for the club to connect with its younger fans.
"We know that many of our younger fans are playing eSports regularly, and interest in the industry is growing in Australia and globally. With 16 million people playing FIFA worldwide, and the competitive FIFA scene taking shape, it is the right time for Melbourne City to move into eSports.
"We see a huge amount of potential and ambition in Marcus. He is a huge football fan, has proven success as a player, and is passionate about representing Melbourne City and engaging with our fans."
CFG's charter only allows their soccer clubs to take part and invest in soccer-based activities and the FIFA video game qualifies under this rule. CFG are owned by a group of wealthy Abu Dhabi businessmen.
City's signing comes after the Adelaide Crows bought Australian eSports team Legacy in May. Before the Crows' move, Fairfax Media reported the AFL were planning to run an eSports tournament, possibly out of Etihad Stadium.
The Greater Western Sydney Giants are looking to buy an eSports team while the West Coast Eagles are also rumoured to want in on the eSports industry. In the NRL, the New Zealand Warriors have long been interested in eSports.
In eSports, professional video gamers play in worldwide online tournaments to audiences of millions and live crowds of thousands. Players play in teams, or individually depending on the game. Overseas sporting clubs such as soccer's Paris Saint-Germain and FC Schalke 04 and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers own eSports teams.
As $1.2 billion global industry, eSports has an annual audience of 239 million people mostly in the elusive 14-to-34-year age group. The AFL , and CFG, want to get their brand and their club brands in front of that demographic, in order to find alternative revenue and sponsorship streams for their leagues.
Adelaide have been trying to use their expertise in elite performance and player development to aid the Legacy team, while Melbourne City will do the same with Gomes.
City have been working with Gomes for a while now and as part of the contract have offered to fund his equipment and allow him to use the full range of facilities at the club's City Football Academy at La Trobe University, Bundoora.
