Twenty years after the inaugural event, Soccer Aid delivered yet another unforgettable night of football, entertainment, and generosity at the London Stadium. England reclaimed the coveted trophy with a narrow 3-2 victory over the World XI, but the real triumph of the evening was the record-breaking £16,462,353 raised for UNICEF.
In a match that seamlessly blended the grit of football legends with the chaotic joy of celebrity cameos, a historic brace from Jermain Defoe, a Player of the Match masterclass from YouTuber Angry Ginge, and some unlikely heroics from former rugby star Joe Marler in goal proved just enough to hold off a fierce World XI comeback.
Idris Breaks the Deadlock
The game began as a tightly contested affair. The World XI, co-managed by Usain Bolt and Clarence Seedorf, looked threatening early on. Actor Nabhaan Rizwan forced two smart saves from England’s starting goalkeeper Joe Hart, while at the other end, 55-year-old Edwin van der Sar rolled back the years. The legendary Dutch stopper produced a stunning fingertip save to tip Wayne Rooney’s effort onto the post.
However, just past the half-hour mark, the deadlock was broken. F1 movie star Damson Idris latched onto a brilliant through-ball from Jermain Defoe and finished with a stylish outside-of-the-boot flick past Van der Sar, followed by a theatrical “flop” celebration.
“This is what I do,” Idris chuckled after the final whistle. “I’ve wanted to be a footballer all my life but I gave that up at 18 to be a bad actor, so it was a dream come true.”
England also had 16-year-old Adolescence star Owen Cooper to thank at the back. Becoming the youngest player in Soccer Aid’s 20-year history, Cooper put in a superb shift at right-back, even if he was slightly fortunate to escape conceding a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Dimitar Berbatov.
Defoe Makes Soccer Aid History
As is Soccer Aid tradition, the second half saw the celebrity goalkeepers introduced: Irish comedian Chris O’Dowd for the World XI, and former England rugby international Joe Marler for the Three Lions.
The change between the sticks immediately played into the hands of a lethal Jermain Defoe. Reunited with his former manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline, the ex-Tottenham striker scored two spectacular goals in the span of a few minutes. Defoe first beat O’Dowd with a close-range chip before immediately doubling down with an inspired 35-yard lob.
The quickfire brace took Defoe’s all-time Soccer Aid tally to seven goals, officially making him the outright top scorer in the charity match’s history. At 3-0, England looked to be cruising toward a comfortable victory.
A Frantic Finish
The World XI, however, had other ideas. Former Chelsea powerhouse Michael Essien sparked the comeback with a thunderous 25-yard strike that beat Joe Marler. Moments later, the deficit was cut to just one when Australian legend Tim Cahill beat Angry Ginge to a cross, powering a trademark header into the back of the net.
Suddenly, England were under siege. Lukas Podolski rattled the crossbar with a ferocious volley, while Jordi Alba and Nemanja Matic peppered the England goal from distance.
Cometh the hour, cometh the unlikely heroes. Joe Marler produced a string of crucial, low saves to deny both Alba and Matic, later describing the experience as the “biggest buzz I’ve had in 10 years, and I only retired 18 months ago.”
In front of Marler, YouTuber Angry Ginge cemented his cult-hero status. After throwing his head in the way of a dangerous bicycle kick in the first half, he produced a massive goal-line clearance and a last-ditch block to deny Podolski a certain tap-in. His tireless defensive shift alongside Joleon Lescott earned him the Player of the Match award for the second consecutive year.
A Record-Breaking Night
Despite a few late counter-attacking opportunities squandered by Theo Walcott, England held on for the 3-2 win, lifting the trophy for the seventh time and closing the gap on the World XI’s eight all-time victories.
As Wayne Rooney and Angry Ginge hoisted the trophy amidst fireworks and a rendition of Nessun Dorma, the incredible fundraising total was announced. The £16.4 million raised on the night pushes the 20-year total for Soccer Aid to over £137 million, ensuring that UNICEF can continue its life-saving work for children around the globe.
The Full Squads
England
Legends:
Joe Hart (Goalkeeper)
Joleon Lescott
Jade Moore
Jack Wilshere
Wayne Rooney
Theo Walcott
Jermain Defoe
Jill Scott
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Toni Duggan
Celebrities:
Joe Marler (Goalkeeper)
Angry Ginge (YouTuber)
Owen Cooper (Actor)
Sam Thompson (Reality TV star)
Tom Grennan (Singer)
Damson Idris (Actor)
Paddy McGuinness (Comedian & presenter)
Alex Brooker (Comedian)
Chloe Burrows (Reality TV star)
GK Barry (Influencer & podcaster)
Jordan North (Radio presenter)
Olly Murs (Singer)
Tom Hiddleston (Actor)
Jack Whitehall (Comedian)
Danny Dyer (Actor)
Soccer Aid World XI
Legends:
Edwin van der Sar (Goalkeeper)
Jordi Alba
Jen Beattie
Leonardo Bonucci
Nemanja Matic
Michael Essien
Tim Cahill
Dimitar Berbatov
Lukas Podolski
Celebrities:
Chris O’Dowd (Goalkeeper / Actor)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Actor)
Richard Gadd (Actor & comedian)
Dermot Kennedy (Singer)
Behzinga (YouTuber)
Nabhaan Rizwan (Actor)
TBJZL (YouTuber)
Nicky Byrne (Singer)
Maisie Adam (Comedian)
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka ‘Nitro’ (Gladiators star / Athlete)
Simon Neil (Singer)
Frankie Dettori (Jockey)
Molly McCann (Former UFC fighter)
