Konami has Today announced that Cristiano Ronaldo will be the pan European face of its forthcoming soccer game PES 2008, which is  the latest incarnation of the multi-million-selling Pro Evolution Soccer series.

Midfielder Ronaldo is regarded as one of the most exciting talents of the modern game, and the 22-year-old is a permanent fixture in the Portuguese national squad. His incredible ball control and trademark skills have seen him receive countless awards, including both the PFA’s 2007 Player and Young Player of the Year awards. As part of the deal, Cristiano Ronaldo will appear on the packaging and point-of-sale materials for Konami’s PAL versions of PES 2008, alongside specially selected local talent, details of which will be released at a later date.

The Ronaldo deal comes as Konami gears up for the launch of PES 2008 this Autumn. Due for release for PS3, Xbox 360, PC-DVD, PS2, PSP and Nintendo DS, the new game boasts the revolutionary Teamvision AI system, a proprietary element that actively monitors the player’s onscreen movements and adapts accordingly, forcing the player to consider their own strategic play more carefully. Other new additions include amazing attention to aesthetic detail as faces contort and shirts crease during a match, extensive Edit modes in all Next Generation versions, and closer control than ever before.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is the most exciting talent in modern football,” commented Jon Murphy, Pro Evolution Soccer Team Leader for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “It is fitting that a player with his incredible skill and poise is to join forces with a game that can thrill and challenge as much as the real thing. His obvious enthusiasm for PES 2008 will be channeled into the game, and we look forward to working with Cristiano in the coming months.”

“For me there is no other game that can capture the grace and skill of football like PES 2008,” added Cristiano Ronaldo. “Every element of the game is lavished with incredible detail, and with its close control and fast pace it is the most complete simulation of real football out there.”