Famous footballer-type people Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho have been scooped up by EA to promote Fifa 2006.

Third-party powerhouse Electronic Arts are gearing up for the launch of this year's update to the Fifa franchise - Europe's best selling sports game franchise ever. EA have also announced a couple of enhancements to the gameplay and management modes in the latest Fifa incarnation.

Clive Downie, Vice President of Marketing at EA SPORTS Europe said that "to reinforce this year's release of the game, a multi-national team in Canada has been focused on product development, which will make Fifa 06 a very different proposition, bringing a Total Football experience to the fingertips of gamer's. It will deliver a combination of attacking gameplay, complete player customisation, pure authenticity and an all-new manager mode - we think football fans are going to like what they see."

In Fifa 06, gamers will be able to create a star player and customise every aspect of Fifa 06 to fit their individual playing style and preferences. New to the game is the Fifa 06 Lounge and online play, which will "provide gamers with as much football as they want, whenever they want it," concluded Downie.

Wayne Rooney, current PFA Young Player of the Year, had this to say: "I'm a big fan of EA's Fifa series and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the final version... It's a great honour for a young player like myself to be chosen to be featured on the cover of Fifa," said Wayne Rooney.

Meanwhile, Ronaldinho gushed: "I feel very privileged to be asked to feature in another Fifa release. The game gives me the opportunity to play the matches I want to play every day of the week � even while away from the field."

Both Rooney and Ronaldinho have worked with EA before, Rooney promoting Fifa 05 in the UK while Ronaldinho appeared on the packs of Fifa Street and Fifa Football 04. Both players have apparently been valuable consultants in the development of the game. Under the new agreement, Rooney and Ronaldinho will now both become "global celebrity endorsers" and will appear on Fifa 06's merchandising and advertising.