Soccer Aid 2025: Big Zuu seals World XI comeback after Carlos Tevez heroics stun England | OneFootball

Nine goals scored in Old Trafford thriller as more than £15million raised for UNICEF

Big Zuu and Carlos Tevez were the heroes as the World XI staged an astonishing second-half recovery to stun England 5-4 and take back the Soccer Aid title for 2025.

England had initially looked to be cruising towards a second successive title after finally ending their six-year wait for another victory in the world’s biggest charity football match at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago, leading 3-0 early in the second half after goals from Wayne Rooney, Toni Duggan and Jermain Defoe.

On target: Wayne Rooney and Toni Duggan had England looking comfortable at half-time

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England made a blistering start to the contest, Rooney marking his latest return to Old Trafford with the earliest goal in Soccer Aid history, firing home after a deft touch from actor James Nelson-Joyce with the World XI failing to clear their lines as fellow Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar struggled notably under the high ball.

The World XI - who lost former boxing world champion Tony Bellew to injury early on - struggled to gain a foothold in the game as Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Michael Carrick all caused problems, until YouTuber Angryginge - who earned player-of-the-match honours - cleared off the line to deny Brazilian icon Rivaldo having already made a superb sliding challenge on Gladiator Diamond, AKA Livi Sheldon.

France midfielder Kheira Hamraoui’s volley forced a routine save from ex-England No1 Joe Hart, with singer Dermot Kennedy also shooting narrowly off target before England doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, former Lioness Duggan played through wonderfully by Carrick before running away from actor and comedian Richard Gadd and finishing coolly beyond Van der Sar.

A mostly tight first half gave way to an incredibly open second, with the World XI’s celebrity goalkeeper Nicky Byrne, of Westlife fame, making two excellent quick-fire saves from Defoe and Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett following a rapid run by another ex-England international in Aaron Lennon.

Byrne was then lucky just seconds later to only receive a yellow card for handling outside the penalty area to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity following a flick by Defoe.

Byrne thwarted Bartlett again before Defoe blasted into the roof of the net at the back post for 3-0 after Angryginge had stooped to connect with a corner.

Tevez - the former Manchester United striker who infamously joined rivals City in 2009 - then totally took over the game as he relished reprising his role as the pantomime villain at Old Trafford, picking out the bottom corner after a lovely flick from player/coach Robbie Keane before cupping his ears to the booing crowd.

Star turn: Carlos Tevez scored four goals after being sent on by the World XI at half-time

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His second goal arrived just 97 seconds later, leaving two England defenders including Phil Jagielka on their backsides before beating TV presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness again.

Lennon teed Defoe up for his second to give England some breathing space after John O’Shea had blocked from Sam Quek, but Tevez would not be outshone as he guided a free-kick into the bottom corner to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-3 with over 20 minutes still to play.

He had his fourth just four minutes later to level up the match, cutting in off the left and beating Angryginge before stroking into the back of the net.

That set up a grandstand finish as Wilshere hit the post, with Big Zuu sent on with 15 minutes to go and having the final decisive say as he ensured there would be no nervy penalty shootout, curling into the bottom corner with his left foot amid some questionable goalkeeping from McGuinness.