For most of us, the thought of playing FIFA for a living is a pipe dream.
But for one player, EA Sports’ beautiful game has earned him a small fortune, a jet-set lifestyle and thousands of fans worldwide.
Enter Ivan “BorasLegend” Lapanje, widely regarded as one of the greatest FIFA players on the planet.
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The 23-year-old is so successful that he holds a Guinness Gaming World Record for being the highest-earning FIFA player to date.
In 2013 alone, the Swede pocketed an enormous $145,378.56 (£114,000)
The vast majority of his earnings – $140,000 – came from victory at the 2013 Virgin Gaming EA Sports FIFA Challenge in Las Vegas, US.
So, how did he get this good?
Lapanje started playing the game at an early age, but it wasn’t until he quit his football career that he started taking it more seriously.
In 2009 he entered his first tournament but lost to Avan “aaviboy” Rashid.
Days later, he had his revenge, beating Rashid 3-1 in the unofficial Swedish Championship at Dreamhack Winter.
Three years passed before Lapanje played competitively again – returning for the Swedish Championships in 2012.
He lost in the final, but determined to bounce back, quit his job in clothing retail and focused all efforts on mastering FIFA.
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The gamble paid off – with subsequent wins in at the 2013 Virgin Gaming Challenge Series in Las Vegas and a bronze in the ESWC in France later that year.
In 2015, the Swede struggled with the new FIFA engine – before finding form again in 2016.
That year, he won Sweden’s first medal (a bronze) at the FIFA Interactive World Cup grand finals.
This year, with a plethora of changes in FIFA 17, Lapanje has seen mixed fortunes.
A highlight was finishing first in the Ultimate Team world ranking for October.
However, Lapanje was disqualified from the Esports World Convention for using an unregistered player, Hugo Lloris, in three of his games.
Still fancy being a pro?
The good news is that Lapanje shows other FIFA players how to become world class on his Facebook page.
Here, you’ll find hints and tips, from dribbling to mastering skill moves, to help improve your game.
For those looking to go pro, these will prove invaluable.
Just don’t quit your job just yet.
NOW WATCH LAPANJE IN ACTION BELOW:
His record features in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, on sale now
