England triumphed over the World XI 3-2 in Soccer Aid 2024, raising a record £16.4 million for Unicef. The match, held at Old Trafford, saw England dominate the first half with Jermaine Defoe scoring two chipped goals to put them 3-0 up, following Damson Idris’s opener.
The World XI fought back in the second half with goals from Michael Essien and Tim Cahill, but England held on thanks to crucial saves from goalkeeper Joe Marler and player of the match Angry Ginge, who made a key block to deny Lukas Podolski.
Marler, a former rugby player, described the win as the “biggest buzz I’ve had in 10 years”. Angry Ginge was named player of the match for the second consecutive year, while Wayne Rooney and the YouTube star lifted the trophy together.
The event featured a host of celebrities and former footballers, including Robbie Williams, who announced the fundraising total, and Usain Bolt, who urged his team on during the late comeback attempt.
