Steph Catley has been paving the way for women in football ever since she appeared on the scene in 2009. Now, the Australian defender is again championing women's football by becoming the first ever female player to appear on the front cover of the popular video game "FIFA."

The 21-year-old Catley will be on "FIFA 16's" Australian cover along with Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Chelsea's Juan Cuadrado.

"FIFA" game developers EA Sports livened things up a bit by coming up with novel initiative of allowing fans to vote for the two players from their region who will share the front cover with Messi. And for the first time ever, EA Sports has also included 12 women's national teams — including England and Catley's native Australia.

The "Westfield Matilda's" star staved off stiff competition from her team mates Katrina Gorry and Kyah Simon to appear victorious on the front cover. She said that "being on the cover of "FIFA 16," it is a dream come true."

It has been a huge year for Catley and the "Westfield Matildas" and she says that being recognized by fans of the game and EA Sports is a big step for women's football and is also a wonderful way of acknowledging the hard work every female football player puts in. Catley confessed that she has always been a big fan of the video game and says the fact that "I will be playable in the game, as well as being on the cover alongside Lionel Messi, is a career highlight for me."

The famous defender, who also plays for the "Portland Thorns" and Australia's "Melbourne Victory," was in awe when she saw the graphics and the intense detail the next installment of "FIFA" has. Catley described her image in the game as looking so much like her and marveled at the almost perfect rendition of her the nose, forehead and even her headband. She said that she would "definitely try and play myself" and joked that it would be like having an out of body experience.

"FIFA 16" is set to be released in the UK in September.