A world-class FIFA player met a world-class footballer last week, as West Ham United’s eSports player ‘Yago’ Gabriel Fawaz partnered with Premier League striker Sergio Aguero to reach the final of the American FIFA eNations Stay And Play Cup.
With both playing a leg each of every game, the Argentinean duo enjoyed a strong run to the competition’s final, beating both Chile and Colombia 5-4 on aggregate in the group stages, while slipping to a 3-2 loss to Brazil.
Yago and Aguero subsequently followed that up with a 2-1 win on aggregate over Peru and a 3-1 loss to United States – a combination of results which, cumulatively, set up a rematch of the ‘eSuperclásico de las Américas’ against Brazil.
There, in a dramatic and agonisingly tense final, Yago drew 1-1 with Brazilian counterpart Henrique ‘Zezinho’ Lempke, before Aguero fell to a golden goal from Flamengo’s Everton Ribeiro after an initial 2-2 draw.
It was amazing playing with Sergio. He’s a great person and a great player for our country – and he’s also a very good FIFA player. I spoke with him a lot
'Yago' Gabriel Fawaz
The run to the competition – and the chance to play alongside one of his heroes, the fourth highest goalscorer in Premier League history – came as another landmark of the 2019/20 season for Yago, who ranked 10th in the world on PlayStation4 prior to the postponement of Global Series events.
“I’m feeling disappointed after losing against Brazil in the final,” Yago explained, “but I was very confident playing alongside Sergio, and I think we’ll be even better next time. I’m very happy to have played in another final and won more top-level experience.
“It was amazing playing with Sergio. He’s a great person and a great player for our country – and he’s also a very good FIFA player. I spoke with him a lot about tactics, formations, and how we could play even better.
“I want to keep training, keep playing even better, and I hope to play at tournaments again in the future.”
The eNations StayAndPlay Cups have seen nations from all over the world competing for their countries on EA SPORTS FIFA 20, with professional footballers including Aguero, Shinji Okazaki and Diogo Jota.
Standout eSports names to take part include Yago, Zezinho and 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Champion, ‘Msdossary’, while the competitions have seen some shock results – the likes of Malta defeating Wales, Portugal, Germany and Saudi Arabia in recent competition.
You can rewatch the full Argentina against Brazil final on the AFA eSports Twitch channel.
For all the latest West Ham United eSports updates, at @WestHamEsports on Twitter and Instagram.
