EA Sports has revealed three new cover stars for the latest edition of FIFA 19, with Cristiano Ronaldo removed from branding. 

New cover stars Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Paulo Dybala have replaced the former cover star who has been the series headline star since FIFA 18.

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However, despite the Portuguese star being caught up in sexual assault allegations, EA Sports claim the move is about rebranding to celebrate the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The Champions League features for the first time in this years edition and now EA Sports have decided a mid-season revamp was needed to celebrate Europe's top competition.

Gamers who purchase the game from now are not only met with a new cover but also exclusive in-game kits and a Champions League player item in FIFA 19's Ultimate Team mode. 

New players will also get the opportunity to pick from one of the three new cover stars to use on a 10-game loan. 

An EA spokesperson told Eurogamer: "With the UEFA Champions League coming to EA Sports FIFA 19 this year, we have the opportunity to offer a range of new content to players that reflects the real-world excitement of football."

"We often celebrate different talent across our sports games, and with the UEFA Champions League knockout stages underway we are featuring some of the biggest stars in football and bringing new players a range of content to get excited about."

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Ronaldo has also been replaced by Alex Morgan in the log-in page, with the US women's star featuring prominently in FIFA 19's 'Journey' game mode. 

Interestingly, this is the first time EA Sports has changed the game's cover mid-season since the game's inception. 

This is the first FIFA cover appearance for all three of Neymar, De Bruyne and Dybala.