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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>World's best players reimagined as GTA characters</li><li>Messi gets moody look in Miami-based game</li><li>Sixth edition set for 2025 release</li></ul><p></p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo on Grand Theft Auto?! World's top footballers transformed into video game figures as anticipation for sixth instalment of popular series rises

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<p>Rockstar Games' trailer for the latest release of the hit video game got fans around the world excited, with some reacting in very creative ways. One particularly imaginative response came from X user <a href="https://twitter.com/DonShelby_" target="_blank">Don Shelby,</a> whose reimagining of the world's greatest football stars as characters from the games went viral. Messi, who, coincidentally, now lives in Miami where the game is set, is portrayed as a quiet loner, who moodily roams the Magic City in a bomber jacket over a simple white T-shirt. Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, is a suave, medallion-wearing crook sporting retro aviators.</p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">5. Cristiano Ronaldo.<br><br>Guaperas hasta las trancas. Llegará a los 86 años y seguirá siendo un rabbit-hunter. La cabra. <a href="https://t.co/RHfuddNz3L">pic.twitter.com/RHfuddNz3L</a></p>— Don Shelby (@DonShelby_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonShelby_/status/1731987242590020068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The game has become hugely popular since it was first released in 1997, with each new edition eagerly anticipated by fans. Rockstar Games have struggled to contain with a number of leaks of footage and trailers from upcoming releases, but on the flip-side, fandom has unleashed some creativity where we are treated to images such as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;ved=2ahUKEwii3Yar2_qCAxXr3gIHHWPiA64QFnoECC8QAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goal.com%2Fen-gb%2Flists%2Fjude-bellingham-picks-up-2023-golden-boy-prize-real-madrid-erling-haaland-ballon-d-or-revenge-lionel-messi-golden-man%2Fbltb542e23c159ea613&amp;usg=AOvVaw3jtr86dtb_opVja0D-fcxt&amp;opi=89978449" target="_blank">Golden Boy Jude Bellingham</a> looking as relaxed on the Miami crime scene as he is on the field for Real Madrid.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Hilo con futbolistas versión personajes del GTA.<br><br>1. Jude Bellingham.<br><br>Outfit playero sudapollista. En plan: 'soy el Golden Boy. Y además soy el mejor jugador del mundo actualmente. Si quiero ir a tu boda con esta camisa hawaiana, voy'. <a href="https://t.co/evRtxUCM0W">pic.twitter.com/evRtxUCM0W</a></p>— Don Shelby (@DonShelby_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonShelby_/status/1731987191365022049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Vinicius Junior, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among the other footballing icons to be transformed into GTA characters. Over the course of its 26-year history Grand Theft Auto, has become the most profitable entertainment product of all time. The previous edition, released in 2013, generated sales of more than $7.7 billion (£6.3bn) for the game's publishers.</p><p></p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic.<br><br>Dueño de cuatro clubes de alterne en Vice City. Trafica con mujeres y cocaína desde Europa del Este. Objetivo número 1 de la Interpool. <a href="https://t.co/3VRWpHyO6U">pic.twitter.com/3VRWpHyO6U</a></p>— Don Shelby (@DonShelby_) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonShelby_/status/1731987214744096875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Although the game will sadly not contain any of the brilliantly re-imagined football icons when it is released in 2025, it will feature a female lead character for the first time. Whether players are given an option to watch MLS' new <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watching-lionel-messi-more-expensive-cheapest-inter-miami-season-tickets-2024-82-per-cent-price-hike/blt7a0f48b7c5582749" target="_blank">star attraction, Messi, at Inter Miami </a>remains to be seen.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO?

Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo on Grand Theft Auto?! World's top footballers transformed into video game figures as anticipation for sixth instalment of popular series rises | Goal.com

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been given Grand Theft Auto makeovers as anticipation for the sixth instalment of the video game builds.

Lionel Messi &amp; Cristiano Ronaldo on Grand Theft Auto?! World&apos;s top footballers transformed into video game figures as anticipation for sixth instalment of popular series rises

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