Pro Evolution Soccer may have lost its claim to be the most popular football game out there in recent years but a decade ago the Konami title was adored by football and gaming fanatics.
What Pro Evo lost in licenses, with rival title FIFA snatching the naming rights for players, clubs and leagues, Konami’s gameplay was regarded as second to none and the team added some interesting approaches over the years- with personal favourites being the ability to create your own team, diving and custom celebrations.
As mentioned, though, naming rights consistently slipped through the grasps of the Japanese company and it led to some very amusing names for some of the world’s finest players. Here’s a selection of the very best of them!
Roberto Carlos/Roberto Larcos
Not the most imaginative name out there! Image Source: Twitter
Neil Lennon/Neil Lemon
So bad it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Image Source: Twitter
Ruud van Nistelrooy/Ruud vom Mistelroum
I'm not sure we want to know how this one came about. Image Source: Twitter
Michael Ballack/Michael Kruger
No, we haven't found the connection either. Image Source: Twitter
Juan Sebastian Veron/Juan Sebastian Revon
Sometimes it's just easy to switch things up. Image Source: Twitter
Samuele Dalla Bona/Samule Dalla Boner
Everything is better when you're immature. Image Source: Twitter
Frank de Boer/Fank de Mole
From defensive powerhouse to comic-book super-villain. Image Source: Twitter
Cafu/Facu
Say it fast enough and it's almost insulting. Image Source: Twitter
Ryan Giggs/Ryan Greggs
Cue the obvious sausage roll reference. Image Source: Twitter
Ronaldo/Ronarid
It still sounds more Brazilian than Fred. Image Source: Twitter
Paul Ince/Paul Once
Once upon a time in Wolverhampton... Image Source: Twitter
Jan Koller/Jan Killer
Because apparently the 6ft7in striker wasn't scary enough. Image Source: Twitter
Edwin van der Sar/Edwin Farzel Haar
The Dutch players lack the consistency you'd expect.
Image Source: Twitter
Ronaldinho/Naldarinho
Fortunately the Brazilian is relatively easy to recognise. Image Source: Twitter
Alan Shearer/Alan Shirare
Konami absolutely butchered this England legend. Image Source: Twitter
Pavel Nedved/Pavel Netret
The classic swap a letter and make it stick. Image Source: Twitter
Roy Keane/Law Kit
Yes, this is real. No, we don't know why. Image Source: Twitter
Kenny Dalglish/Kenny Durlmints
We honestly wondered if the Liverpool legend had changed careers. Image Source: Twitter
Henrik Larsson/Henrik Larcan
Do PES have something against footballing legends? Image Source: Twitter
Rafael van der Vaart/Rafael Farzel Gaart
Another Dutch classic, who comes up with this stuff?
Image Source: Twitter
Apart from being a commentators nightmare, these players are remembered fondly in Pro Evo folklore as the majority of them were at the peak of their careers during the summit of Konami’s success and fans will have their own stories on each player.
If you ask us, this should be customary in football and we should be allowed to make up names for everyone. After all, football has got a bit too serious and we all need to have a bit of a laugh now and again.
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