Soccer Aid 2025 - LIVE!
The World XI are celebrating victory in the latest edition of Soccer Aid. After their dominant streak of victories in the planet’s biggest charity football match was ended at Stamford Bridge 12 months ago, they got back to winning ways in a dramatic nine-goal thriller at Old Trafford on Sunday night, with Big Zuu proving the hero as he dispatched the all-important final effort late on to avoid the tension of a penalty shootout.
That memorable match-winning moment came after Carlos Tevez reprised his role as the pantomime villain at the home of former club Manchester United, scoring four after being sent on at half-time as the World XI recovered from a 3-0 deficit to eventually triumph 5-4, extending their record to eight wins in the 14th edition of Soccer Aid.
Jermain Defoe had notched twice off the bench to put England in a commanding position and become Soccer Aid’s all-time top goalscorer in the process, with Wayne Rooney scoring the earliest goal ever in Soccer Aid before Toni Duggan doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time. However, they simply could not live with Tevez as he carried the World XI to glory.
Soccer Aid 2025 highlights
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The man of the moment celebrates sealing the World XI’s astonishing Soccer Aid comeback at Old Trafford...
Soccer Aid 2025: England 4-5 World XI
The World XI celebrate with the trophy on the Old Trafford pitch after collecting their medals as the streamers come down.
Robbie Williams then reveals that £15,280,163 has been raised for UNICEF tonight.
Unbelievable stuff.
Soccer Aid 2025: England 4-5 World XI
Match-winner Big Zuu with a brilliant post-match interview on ITV, leading the crowd in a World XI chant and insisting he’s “up there with the greats”.
He also reiterates the importance of donating to UNICEF and reveals that Peter Schmeichel told him just to stay in the middle when he came on.
Soccer Aid 2025: England 4-5 World XI
Full-time
Carlos Tevez with four second-half goals and Big Zuu notches a dramatic late winner as the World XI fight back from 3-0 down to win 5-4 and take back the Soccer Aid title at Old Trafford.
It’s a record eighth triumph overall as they get back to winning ways after last year’s blip at Stamford Bridge.
England with just one win in the last seven years now.
Soccer Aid 2025: England 4-5 World XI
89 mins: Tevez has just taken out Lennon, who brandishes the yellow card himself.
One final chance for England to deliver into the box, but it’s headed away.
That could be that...
GOAL! England 4-5 World XI | Big Zuu 84'
84 mins: Big Zuu promised he would score tonight and might just have notched the goal to win Soccer Aid for the World XI!
He fires into the bottom corner with Paddy McGuinness inexplicably trying to save with his feet instead of just using his hands.
Big Zuu goes crazy and lands the Cristiano Ronaldo celebration.
What a moment.
England 4-4 World XI
82 mins: Angryginge is certainly having an eventful night, throwing himself into challenges and getting involved in plenty of aggro.
He follows through on Tevez, who did not like that one bit and reacted.
But they quickly make up.
England 4-4 World XI
80 mins: Steph Houghton replaced former England team-mate Toni Duggan a little earlier and now needs some treatment after being taken down by a fine but robust sliding challenge from Leonardo Bonucci, who has the captain’s armband for the World XI in this second half.
England 4-4 World XI
78 mins: Paddy McGuinness has been tormented by the unplayable Carlos Tevez since coming on, but now gets some supportive cheers after catching a cross from the right.
England 4-4 World XI
75 mins: After Big Zuu comes on to ‘21 Seconds’ by So Solid Crew, Wilshere curls against the post for England. So close.
These walk-on songs for substitutes have been interesting, not least Liverpool fan Sam Quek choosing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at Old Trafford.