Virtual football legend Tijani Babangida returns in PES 2016

The fastest player in Pro Evolution Soccer history is back in the game, as a downloadable MyClub legend for PES 2016.

Tijani Banangida had a fairly successful real-life career with Nigeria and clubs such as Roda JC and Ajax, but it was in PES that he achieved icon status – mainly thanks to his 96 acceleration and 99 speed ratings. Think coming up against Ronaldo or Messi online now is infuriating? This guy was the original Messinaldo. (And therefore the first acquisition for many a Master League team.)

Babangida has now been added to PES 2016 for a limited time as a MyClub legend, with near-identical stats to those he had at his peak – 99 speed, and 94 explosive power. If you want him you'll need to act fast; he'll disappear forever (or, more likely, until next year's game) on 21 April.

The Nigerian wingman was so popular among fans during the series PS2 heyday that one PES devotee once claimed he dumped his girlfriend because she didn't believe he was real.

Five other legends have also been added to PES 2016 alongside Babangida: Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Roberto Baggio, Oliver Kahn and Filippo Inzaghi.

PES 2016 is out now on PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.

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Ben Wilson

I'm GamesRadar's sports editor, and obsessed with NFL, WWE, MLB, AEW, and occasionally things that don't have a three-letter acronym – such as Chvrches, Bill Bryson, and Streets Of Rage 4. (All the Streets Of Rage games, actually.) Even after three decades I still have a soft spot for Euro Boss on the Amstrad CPC 464+.