Sidemen founding member Tobi Brown delivered a moment of pure brilliance at Wembley Stadium, scoring a sumptuous equalising free-kick with a stunning trivela technique during the annual Sidemen charity football match. The flash of quality came against the YouTube Allstars, levelling the score at 1-1 in what developed into a wildly entertaining first half that ended 4-4.
Massive Audience for Charity Spectacle
The event, which sold out within just two-and-a-half hours of tickets going on sale, attracted approximately 90,000 attendees to north London's iconic venue. Meanwhile, around 1.6 million fans were tuning in via the official YouTube live stream, demonstrating the enormous reach of these online personalities. By half-time, the charitable initiative had already raised an impressive £4.7 million for Brightside and M7 Education.
The Trivela Technique Explained
Brown's spectacular strike utilised the trivela technique, which involves bending the football with the outside of the boot rather than the traditional instep. This method is best associated with former Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma and has more recently been practiced by Barcelona's rising star Lamine Yamal. Brown, who operates under the online alias TBJZL, boasts substantial social media followings with 5.1 million YouTube subscribers and over four million Instagram followers.
Star-Studded Lineups and Half-Time Entertainment
The YouTube Allstars featured prominent creators including KSI, Angry Ginge, Miniminter, and Max Fosh in their starting lineup. Meanwhile, the Sidemen outfit boasted equally recognisable online figures such as ChrisMD, Niko Omilana, Vikkstar, and Wroetoshaw. While some traditional sports fans may be unfamiliar with these names, each commands millions of dedicated followers across various digital platforms.
The extended half-time show provided additional entertainment with a performance from acclaimed British rapper Tinie Tempah, adding to the spectacle's mainstream appeal.
YouTube Personalities Entering Mainstream Consciousness
Several participants have successfully transitioned beyond their digital origins into broader public recognition. Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, originally gained fame through football and video-game content before capturing national hearts by winning the 2025 edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
The YouTube community is also making significant inroads into conventional football circles. KSI, born Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, purchased a stake in sixth-tier club Dagenham & Redbridge in March with ambitions to guide the National League South side to the Premier League. He quickly made his mark by sacking manager Lee Bradbury within two weeks and appointing former England striker Andy Carroll as replacement, regularly attending matches and streaming his reactions from the stands.
Celebrity Participation Policy Clarified
Despite interest from high-profile figures, the Sidemen maintain a strict policy regarding participant selection for their charity match. Darts sensation Luke Littler was reportedly keen to participate in this year's event, but KSI confirmed the organisation declined the opportunity. "I have not responded and he's not in," KSI told Capital FM. "It sounds so bad, but we only have content creators on the Sidemen Charity Match. So we haven't ever had a celebrity come on to play. That's more for like Soccer Aid. You never know, maybe one day we'll have Soccer Aid versus Sidemen."
The annual charity match continues to grow in scale and significance, blending digital entertainment with traditional sporting spectacle while generating substantial funds for worthwhile causes. Brown's magnificent trivela free-kick provided the standout moment in an event that showcased the increasing convergence between online content creation and mainstream sports entertainment.
