Diego Costa's Vintage Strike Highlights Star-Studded Charity Spectacle
Diego Costa rolled back the years with a spectacular 25-yard stunner during a wildly entertaining charity football match that brought together a host of footballing legends and social media influencers. The event, held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar, provided both breathtaking skill and comedic moments for a global audience.
Nostalgic Partnerships and Football Royalty
Costa, who remains without a club since 2024 and has yet to formally announce his retirement at age 37, demonstrated he still possesses considerable quality as he opened the scoring in the star-studded Match for Hope. The former Spain international started alongside Eden Hazard, recreating their successful Chelsea partnership from 2014-2017 and giving Blues fans a nostalgic throwback to their Stamford Bridge glory days.
They were joined by Real Madrid legend Marcelo and numerous influencers on Arsene Wenger's Team Chunkz, which also featured I'm A Celebrity winner AngryGinge. Their opponents, Team Aboflah managed by Roberto Di Matteo, boasted Arsenal icon Thierry Henry spearheading their attack, supported by Tim Cahill and Franck Ribery in midfield, with Barcelona legend Gerard Pique anchoring the defence.
Chaotic Entertainment and Wrestling Antics
The light-hearted charity encounter delivered not only a glut of goals but also moments of pure hilarity that captured social media attention. British rapper and Britain's Got Talent judge KSI found himself at the centre of one such incident when social media star Bilal Fadili executed a spectacular WWE-style wrestling move, hoisting himself onto KSI's shoulders before sending him flying with a twist reminiscent of Rey Mysterio.
Remarkably, the referee allowed play to continue, and the ball eventually found its way to Costa, whose powerful long-range effort surprised YouTuber David Vujanic in goal and nestled in the net. This set the tone for a topsy-turvy encounter that would see multiple lead changes and dramatic moments throughout.
Goal-Fest and Celebrity Contributions
Led by the ever-dangerous Henry, Team Aboflah pushed for an equaliser, with the French legend darting into the box before being slide-tackled by Instagram influencer Marlon. Henry would soon gain revenge, however, clipping a delightful free-kick for former Millwall and Everton star Tim Cahill to head home.
Team Chunkz then surged into a 4-1 lead through goals from American YouTuber Mark Rober, Eden Hazard, and content creator Eman SV2. Ribery responded with a goal and assist to make it 4-3 before Henry's assist for YouTuber Taiyo levelled the scoring. Media personality Chunkz then restored his team's advantage to make it 5-4 at half-time.
Second Half Madness and Charity Impact
The madness continued unabated after the interval, with four goals scored in just sixteen minutes. Costa added his second of the match, while YouTube sensation MrBeast scored from the penalty spot after offering the goalkeeper a briefcase of money not to save his effort. Hazard and Marcelo combined beautifully to put Team Chunkz 8-6 ahead, and despite a late consolation from Channel 4 host Harry Pinero, Wenger's side emerged victorious.
This marked the third instalment of this charitable initiative, following the first event in 2024. The matches are believed to have raised more than £15 million for disadvantaged children across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Pre-match and half-time entertainment was provided by The Chainsmokers and the Jonas Brothers, adding to the spectacle's star power.
The event successfully blended footballing excellence with entertainment, demonstrating how sport can unite celebrities from different fields for meaningful charitable causes while providing unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.
