At just 18, Luke Littler, the darts prodigy known as “The Nuke,” has already conquered the oche, claiming the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship and amassing over £1.5 million in prize money. Yet, his passion for football, rooted in his lifelong support for Manchester United, has sparked a tantalizing ambition: to swap darts for the pitch in Soccer Aid, the star-studded charity match for UNICEF. However, Littler’s enthusiasm is tempered by a stark concern—fear of a football injury, like a broken arm, that could jeopardize his lucrative darts career and cost him millions. As he navigates his meteoric rise, Littler’s candid reflections reveal a young star balancing dreams with pragmatism.
Littler’s love for football is no secret. Growing up in Runcorn, he played as a goalkeeper until age 12, when his father urged him to focus on darts—a decision that catapulted him to global fame. Despite his darts dominance, Littler remains a fervent Red Devils fan, parading his World Championship trophy at Old Trafford in January 2025 and receiving messages from United icons like Luke Shaw and Gary Neville. His football skills, showcased in viral clips, include a stunning free-kick in a Sunday league match and back-to-back crossbar strikes in a YouTube challenge, earning fans’ awe with comments like, “The Nuke got some tekkers.” These displays fueled speculation about Littler joining Soccer Aid, set for June 15, 2025, at Old Trafford, where celebrities and ex-players like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez competed.
In 2024, Littler voiced his eagerness for Soccer Aid on JaackMaate’s Happy Hour podcast, saying, “100 per cent. I’ve seen they have only got about 10 people down, so if they are watching – get me in. I’m definitely not playing in goal if I play for Soccer Aid. Up front.” He envisioned himself as a striker, leveraging his left-footed prowess under coaches like Frank Lampard and Harry Redknapp at Stamford Bridge. However, by May 2025, discussions with Soccer Aid organizers stalled, as Littler revealed to SPORTbible: “I’ve been in contact for the past two years now but obviously my manager, he thinks injury wise if anything was to happen – it just saves me from doing it. Maybe in a few years.” His manager’s caution reflects the high stakes, with Littler’s career earnings, bolstered by a multimillion-pound Target Darts sponsorship, projected to reach £50 million if he sustains his trajectory.
The fear of injury is not unfounded. A broken arm could sideline Littler from darts, where precision is paramount, costing him tournament winnings and endorsement deals. Darts legend Phil Taylor advised, “Try to start investing your money, so if anything happens, if you fall down and break your arm or something, you’ve got something to fall back on.” Littler has heeded such counsel, exploring investments like purchasing Warrington Town, a National League North club, as a future venture. “It would be an investment for myself in the coming years,” he said, signaling a strategic approach to his wealth.
Littler’s football flirtations haven’t been without action. In May 2025, he made a memorable Sunday league debut for Winton Yanited, a team coached by his friend, Twitch streamer Angry Ginge (Morgan Burtwhistle). Wearing a No. 180 shirt, Littler scored a penalty, taunted the goalkeeper, and cheekily requested a substitution after one minute, earning laughs and a winners’ medal as the team clinched a 5-2 victory. His camaraderie with Ginge, seen on Celebrity Gogglebox where they bantered over Littler’s Christmas tree in June, underscores his appeal to a younger, social media-savvy audience. Their streams, featuring EAFC gaming, have gone viral, including a moment when Littler accidentally hinted at a romantic interest, prompting Ginge’s quip, “Who the f*** is that?”
As Littler eyes Soccer Aid’s future editions, his story captivates for its blend of ambition and caution. The teenager who transformed darts with “Littlermania,” drawing 3.7 million viewers to the 2024 World Championship final, dreams of emulating Rooney on the pitch. Yet, with a potential £100 million fortune on the horizon, as projected by financial analysts, he remains grounded. For now, Littler’s football aspirations linger as a tantalizing “what if,” with fans hoping to one day see The Nuke trade treble 20s for goals at Old Trafford.
Leave a Reply