When late Argentina idol Diego Maradona scored in the first ever Soccer Aid, it set the tone for a star-filled event that has produced a succession of memorable matches.
The teams involved have only been separated by more than two goals on one occasion, with five of the 12 games decided by penalties.
One of those came in 2022, when both teams took the lead in a 2-2 draw that began with four-time Premier League winner Petr Cech in goal for the Rest of World side and one of the greatest managers of all time, Arsene Wenger, guiding them.
Here’s what you need to know about previous Soccer Aid results, some of the billboard names to have taken part and where it’s been held.
MORE: When is Soccer Aid 2023?
What is Soccer Aid?
Co-founded by pop star and Port Vale fan Robbie Williams in 2006, Soccer Aid centres on a football match inviting two squads of household names to face each other in a match.
It took place every two years until 2018, when its enduring success saw it become an annual event, making even more money for charity.
Soccer Aid is held for UNICEF, which protects and supports children around the world. Organisers say the game has raised more than £75 million ($94.3m) for the charity, as well as raising awareness with the help of high-profile names calling on the public to donate.
Sir Mo doing Sir Mo things 👏@statsports || @Mo_Farah pic.twitter.com/2tBBRrT6cy
— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) June 11, 2023
What happened at Soccer Aid 2023?
Soccer Aid 2023 was an entertaining encounter at Old Trafford, where the Rest of the World side edged a six-goal thriller 4-2.
A double from former Tottenham and Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane helped secure a comeback victory and a fifth win on the bounce for the World XI.
England were 2-1 up early in the second half after goals from actor Asa Butterfield and Manchester United hero Paul Scholes had eclipsed sprint legend Usain Bolt’s 26th-minute opener.
Kemal Cetinay, a former Love Island contestant, sealed the result with a fine solo run and finish, somehow leaving Olympic champion Mo Farah in his wake to score his fifth goal in the showpiece fixture.
Soccer Aid list of winners
On the pitch, the Rest of the World team has won seven times to the England team’s five victories, although the hosts had been well ahead before their opponents’ current run of five straight triumphs.
England won five of the first seven meetings, and no game produced fewer than three goals before a 1-1 draw in 2020, when Wayne Rooney, Sam Allardyce and Bradley Walsh’s Three Lions lost 4-3 on penalties.
| Year | Winners | England scorers | RoW scorers | Attendance |
| 2006 | England (2-1) | Les Ferdinand, Jonathan Wilkes | Diego Maradona | 71,960 |
| 2008 | England (4-3) | Teddy Sheringham, Alan Shearer (2), Wilkes | Paolo Di Canio, Gilles Marini | 45,000 |
| 2010 | RoW (2-2; 7-6 pens) | Jamie Redknapp, Sheringham | Joe Calzaghe, Sami Hyypia | 65,493 |
| 2012 | England (3-1) | Sheringham, Wilkes, Kevin Phillips | Serge Pizzorno | 67,346 |
| 2014 | RoW (4-2) | Redknapp, Phillips | Clarence Seedorf (3), Nicky Byrne | 65,574 |
| 2016 | England (3-2) | Mark Wright, Jermain Defoe (2) | Dimitar Berbatov (2) | 70,000 |
| 2018 | England (3-3; 4-3 pens) | Darren Bent, Jeremy Lynch, Michael Owen | Robbie Keane, Juan Sebastian Veron, Seedorf | 71,965 |
| 2019 | RoW (2-2; 3-1 pens) | Lynch (2) | Usain Bolt, Kemal Cetinay | 39,836 |
| 2020 | RoW (1-1; 4-3 pens) | Yung Filly | Keane | 0 |
| 2021 | RoW (3-0) | – | Cetinay (2), Lee Mack | 51,674 |
| 2022 | RoW (2-2; 4-1 pens) | Wright, Tom Grennan | Noah Beck, Cetinay | 54,410 |
| 2023 | RoW (4-2) | Butterfield, Scholes | Bolt, Keane (2), Cetinay | TBC |
Soccer Aid: Biggest Celebrities
An array of stars have taken part over the years, with Williams initially captaining the hosts against rival skipper Gordon Ramsay, the chef known for his hit TV series.
Woody Harrelson, Will Ferrell and Gerard Butler have been among the Hollywood icons lured to lace up their boots, and some of the greatest athletes of all time — including Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, who are involved again in 2023 — have used the opportunity to show their skills in a different sport.
If social media followings are any measure of fame, former One Direction singer Niall Horan’s Instagram fanbase of more than 32 million takes some beating.
Two of Horan’s former bandmates and fellow Soccer Aid enlistees, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne, have around 44 million followers between them on the platform.
Serial Soccer Aid player and social media sensation Noah Beck has almost as many followers across his platforms, and actor Tom Hiddleston — a newcomer to the match in 2023 — has more than 23 million.
Soccer Aid: Best Footballers
So many hall-of-fame footballers have taken part in the match that there would be some debate over a list of the best.
Maradona, who was named the best player of the 20th century in an official FIFA vote, is arguably number one, while Lothar Matthaus, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos are a few of the other World Cup winners to have been involved.
English viewers have enjoyed watching greats of their national team and domestic game take part. Women’s EURO 2022 winner Jill Scott will captain a team featuring the likes of Paul Scholes and Gary Neville for 2023, while cap centurions such as David Beckham, Karen Carney and Eniola Aluko and Premier League legends including Alan Shearer and Michael Owen have played in the games.
Ruud Gullit, Emma Hayes, Kenny Dalglish, Bryan Robson and Jose Mourinho are some of the revered figures to have coached teams.
Soccer Aid stadium: Where has the charity match been played?
The game was first held at Old Trafford and took place there again in 2023, having previously been played there on all but four occasions.
Wembley Stadium was the setting for the second edition. Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge hosted the match in 2019, followed by Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in 2021 and West Ham United’s London Stadium a year later.
