Anthony Joshua met Wycombe Wanderers forward Adebayo Akinfenwa ahead of his heavyweight title defense against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium, where Joshua presented Akinfenwa with the FIFA 19 strongest player award.
Akinfenwa holds the title of FIFA 19’s strongest player with a strength rating of 97, a distinction he has carried for several years. The two compared biceps, and Joshua jokingly conceded that Akinfenwa was probably the stronger man.
Joshua said he already owns a copy of FIFA 19 and is eager to find time to play it. While he appreciates the game growing more realistic each year, he said the new Kick Off party modes are what excite him most. As a fighter, he is particularly drawn to the survival and no rules game types, the latter of which allows fouls without referee intervention.
Akinfenwa’s strength rating of 97 puts him clear of the three next-strongest players in the game, who each sit at 95. However, his rating is one point lower than his FIFA 18 figure.
Akinfenwa also received a first look at his Ultimate Team card at the FIFA 19 global launch party, where he posed alongside current World’s Strongest Man Hafpor Julius Bjornsson. For the first time, Akinfenwa has a silver FUT card, rated with 44 pace, 64 shooting, and 83 physicality. Bjornsson was also given his own Ultimate Team card, an 87-rated centre back with a 99 physicality score.