Exciting Highlights from the 2024 Match for Hope

omidbasir- The 37-year-old former Spain international, who has been without a club since 2024 and has yet to officially announce his retirement, made a remarkable impact during the latest edition of the Match for Hope. He opened the scoring with an impressive 25-yard strike, demonstrating flashes of the aggression and power that characterized his prime years, despite his extended absence from competitive football.

Costa took to the field alongside Eden Hazard, evoking memories of their successful partnership at Chelsea from 2014 to 2017, with Hazard operating on the left flank. The match, which was led by Arsene Wenger as coach of Team Chunkz, also featured Real Madrid legend Marcelo, several former professionals, and a range of online personalities, including I’m A Celebrity winner AngryGinge. The event was held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

The opposition, Team Aboflah, was managed by Roberto Di Matteo and included notable players such as Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Tim Cahill, and Gerard Pique. The match quickly evolved into a frenetic yet light-hearted spectacle, with the competitive edge frequently softened by moments of humor.

One of the highlights involved social media star Bilal Fadili and YouTuber KSI. After KSI deftly maneuvered the ball past him, Fadili jumped onto KSI’s shoulders and executed a wrestling-style move reminiscent of WWE, sending him crashing to the ground. The referee allowed play to continue, and shortly thereafter, the ball reached Costa, whose powerful shot caught YouTuber goalkeeper David Vujanic off guard, sending it into the net.

Team Aboflah responded with Henry orchestrating their attack, showcasing his sharp movement as he drove into the box, only to be halted by a sliding tackle from influencer Marlon. Henry soon found his moment, delivering a perfectly placed free-kick that Cahill headed home, narrowing the score to 4-2.

The match swung dramatically from one end to the other, as Team Chunkz surged ahead to a 4-1 lead through goals from YouTuber Mark Rober, Hazard, and Eman SV2. However, Ribery catalyzed a comeback, assisting one goal and netting another, before Henry set up YouTuber Taiyo to level the score at 4-4. Just before the halftime whistle, Chunkz reclaimed the lead, ending the first half at 5-4.

The second half provided no respite, with four goals scored in the first 16 minutes. This included a second goal from Costa and a penalty converted by MrBeast, who humorously attempted to negotiate with the goalkeeper, offering a briefcase full of money to let him score before the referee intervened.

Hazard and Marcelo combined effectively once again to extend Team Chunkz’s lead to 8-6. Although Team Aboflah managed to pull one back through a rebound finished by Channel 4 presenter Harry Pinero, Wenger’s side ultimately secured the victory.

The Match for Hope, now in its third edition since its inception in 2024, is reported to have raised over £15 million for disadvantaged children across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Pre-match and halftime entertainment featured performances by The Chainsmokers and the Jonas Brothers.

Following another exhilarating game in Doha, both celebrities and former professionals are set to return home, eagerly anticipating next year’s continuation of the Match for Hope.