Wayne Rooney Sends Chelsea Legend Michael Essien Tumbling in Epic Soccer Aid 2026 Showdown!

WAYNE ROONEY was straight back into his old ways in the opening minutes of Soccer Aid as he put in a crunching tackle on an old rival.

Rooney, 40, started as a second striker for England at the iconic charity football match.

The annual match, held this year at West Ham’s London Stadium, raises money for Unicef, with the total for this year’s edition already over the £4million-mark before kick-off.

But there was nothing charitable about Rooney’s challenge on Chelsea legend Michael Essien in the middle of the park, barely five minutes into the contest.

The Ghanaian midfielder received the ball in his own defensive third and tried to turn on the ball.

But Rooney arrived and crashed into the back of him, sending him tumbling to the floor.

Rooney thought he had got away with it, but the referee eventually called it back for an inevitable foul.

The England legend could only stop and shrug his arms in a tongue-in-cheek display of frustration before carrying on with the match.

Soccer Aid has been raising money for charity since 2006, with this the 15th edition of the competition.

World XI are the defending champions, having won last year’s match 5-4 at Old Trafford, and taking the glory in six of the last seven events.

This year’s edition of the tournament includes the likes of Hollywood actors Tom Hiddleston and Damson Idris, with 16-year-old adolescence star Owen Cooper becoming the youngest ever Soccer Aid player.

They are joined in East London by the footballing talents of legends like Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Jordi Alba.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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