Watch him play tonight at 7:30pm on Twitch
When MLS announced the creation of a new competitive EA Sports FIFA 18 league featuring the best FIFA 18 players from the United States and Canada, the Impact knew it had to get its hands on someone special.
Introducing Lyes Ould-Ramoul, although most people in the gaming community know him as LyesMTL. Arriving in Montreal at a young age, the 21-year-old studies at HEC Montréal, likes to play sports, and loves to watch soccer, but one of his favorite things to do is play FIFA. Looking back, he struggles to remember a time when he didn’t play the famous game.
“It goes way back,” said Lyes. “My first memories are of the 2002 World Cup game on the computer. My mom told me that when I was small, I used to watch my brother play and get jealous, so he would give me a controller that wasn’t plugged in. I thought I was playing with him but really, I wasn’t. This game, it’s always brought me so much pleasure, it’s the one game I’ve spent the most time on. I don’t even try playing other games anymore, my sole interest is FIFA.”
The big leagues
Despite dominating opponents for as long as he could remember, Lyes only seriously started believing he could compete at the highest level a few years ago, while watching the FIFA Interactive World Cup in 2014.
“During the summer, I was watching the competition, and I was paying close attention to the participants and their skill level. That’s when I told myself, I think I could maybe do this as well. I guess I was right, because the following year I qualified for the World Cup.”
Right he was, but the road wasn’t easy. Qualifying for these tournaments can be excruciatingly difficult, as Lyes experienced himself. The qualification process can last for months, and with so many people fighting for just a few spots, the competition is fierce.
“Qualification is done online,” explained Lyes. “Every month, for six months, there’s an opportunity to qualify. I did all six months, but I only qualified on the last month. It was very hard, but everything worked out at the end.”
Lyes was flown to Munich, Germany, for the 2015 FIFA Interactive World Cup, where he got to compete with the world’s best and experience the tournament for the first time. The young Montrealer stunned his peers when he finished 4th, just missing out on a top three finish.
“It was another world, we were treated like stars,” said Lyes. “When we arrived at the airport, there were hosts and hostesses with our names ready to greet us, and chauffeurs to take us to our hotel. Everyone took such good care of us. There were cameras everywhere and it seemed we were always doing interviews. I was only 18 at the time, so it was unreal. Another world.”
Signing with the Impact
After just a year of playing FIFA seriously, Lyes had made a name for himself in the gaming community, amassing over 2,500 followers on Twitter and cementing his reputation as one of the best FIFA players in North America. But signing for a professional soccer team is something he never expected. “When I started playing, soccer teams weren’t in the market at all, so representing a team is something that never really crossed my mind,” explained Lyes. “Even in 2015, when clubs started to slowly show an interest in this type of thing, I never imagined it gaining this much momentum. It’s incredible.”
Lyes becomes the latest online FIFA player to sign for an MLS club. Although he had received offers from other teams as well, Lyes wanted to make sure the deal was closed with his childhood team, the Montreal Impact. “This is an amazing opportunity,” said Lyes. “I truly wasn’t expecting this when I first started, and I’m happy to see the club trusts me. I’ll do everything to represent the colours of the Impact and take advantage of this great opportunity.”
Lyes will have a chance to compete for the eMLS Cup in April, for the event’s inaugural edition at the popular gaming festival PAX East in Boston.
