A community worker from Moss Side stole the show as England launched their final push to win the FIFA 2018 World Cup vote in Zurich.
Eddie Afekafe, 26, who works on a community football programme for Manchester City, opened a presentation which included David Beckham, David Cameron and Prince William.
And Mr Afekafe was immediately hailed as the highlight of England's presentation after he told the 22-man executive committee of FIFA - and a global TV audience of millions - that football had turned his life around.
Four years ago he was unemployed with friends in gangs and prison.
"What I got, what they didn't get, was an opportunity," he said.
"And that opportunity came through football."
He promised an England selection would "change the lives of millions of people like me".
Prince William went on stage after the opening presentation by Eddie and said: "What Eddie represents is a credit to FIFA because it's your game that transformed his life.
"England 2018 and FIFA together have the opportunity to create thousands of more opportunities for people like Eddie.
"It's a supremely powerful force for binding people together.
"I love football, we English love football - that's why it would be such an honour for us to host the 2018 World Cup.
"I also give you an assurance that England is committed to developing football internationally as a member of your football family."
William also referred to his forthcoming marriage to Kate Middleton, saying: "We can deliver extraordinary public occasions - I certainly hope as I'm planning quite a big one myself next year.
"It will be truly a FIFA World Cup for the world."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter described England's presentation "excellent and remarkable".
After the presentation, Eddie was immediately praised as the star of the show in Zurich by many of the observers from England who were waiting for the result.
Henry Winter, football writer with the Daily Telegraph, said Eddie had done 'England and Manchester City proud'.
Many fans on Twitter also praised his performance. Stephen White wrote: "Well done to Eddie Afekafe. Managed to upstage Becks, Cameron and the future king - a credit to the nation".
Richard Swancott wrote: "England World Cup bid may just be a winner, thanks to Afekafe." And John Hoolan wrote: "Eddie Afekafe was the real star of England2018 bid. Fingers crossed."
Speaking at the family home in Ardwick, Eddie's mum Elizabeth said: "We watched him on TV and the phone hasn't stopped ringing since he appeared. I'm very proud."
Eddie has a history of rising to the big occasion. Previously he has addressed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in front of 400 people and has spoken at the House of Lords.
As an ambassador for the 2018 bid he met Fifa president Sepp Blatter and have a presentation on City's role in the community as a model for World Cup legacy.
Earlier this month he was named Young Ambassador of the Year at The Prince's Trust north west awards ceremony at Lancashire cricket club's Old Trafford home.
David Beckham spoke of how his time at Manchester United should inspire the England bid team to battle right to the last moment, just as the Reds do on the pitch. And 1966 World Cup winner and United great Sir Bobby Charlton is over in Switzerland to add his support for the bid.
England go into the vote as genuine contenders.
Latest reports suggest they are neck-and-neck with Spain/Portugal after Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin's amazing speech in which he announced he would not travel to Zurich for the vote.
Holland/Belgium are also bidding but are viewed as the outsiders in the secret ballot of the 22 FIFA executive committee members.
Putin said: "We have watched with disappointment as an obvious campaign was being unleashed against members of the FIFA executive committee.
"They are being dragged through the mud and smeared. I interpret this as unfair competition. We believe that such methods of competition are entirely unacceptable.
"Under these circumstances, I think it would be best not to go out of respect for the members of the FIFA executive committee, so that they could make their decision in peace and without any outside pressure."
We will be covering the vote live with our blog, The decision will be announced after 3pm, follow the live blog by clicking on the grey box below.
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Manchester City and Manchester United? In alphabetical order please MEN?
As an Irish person I have some impartial points of view regarding England’s chances…
Positives:
• England have all of the stadia in place & are of a very high standard.
• England is the birthplace of Football
• The infrastructure in England is Excellent
• Passionate football fans.
• Stadia will be full unlike in other championships where we see half empty stadiums until the quarters.
• Low crime rates, cheap & accessible compared to Russia.
• Lessons will be learnt after the Olympics & this will add to England hosting one of the best World Cups of all time.
Negatives:
• Contradicting the above FIFA prefer for all of the stadia not to be in place for ‘legacy’ nonsense.
• When possible FIFA prefer for a World Cup to increase the popularity of football to increase in the host country – legacy nonsense again. Could the popularity of football possibly increase in England? I think not as it is already an integral part of English culture.
• Over the last 40 years a sizable minority of English fans have reaped havoc when travelling abroad to follow England – this cannot be over looked.
• The British Government & the FA have too high of standards to compete on a level playing field with less scrupulous bidding nations.
Every true football fan will be hoping that England get the World Cup as they deserve it.
Rationally it should be a no-brainer unfortunately FIFA are not rational and are corrupt.
Good luck with the bid from Ireland.
Doesn't Beckham play in America not actually any current connection with United !
Becks has just put in a awesome performance, well done sir
Well done Eddie, the voice of the ordinary supporter not the elite. Just what is needed.
Eddie was excellent! Just the ticket and a lot more believeable than the Z list "celebs" they normally put up!!!!
I think it is excellent that David Beckham is wearing a blue tie and ..Eddie Afekafe is wearing a red tie, so distancing themselves from the childish rivalry so commonly exposed in the comments on any City or United story. They are both ambassadors for a mature form of football support and I hope others can learn from their example.
Here's hoping it goes to Spain or Russia or anywhere but England. This could be the worst thing to happen to football in England since Euro 96.
From a very proud MUFC fan - well done Eddie!
THANKYOU THE NATION CAN BE PROUD , IF WE DONT WIN THE BID IT SHOWS THAT GOOD THINGS ARE COMING OUT OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL, AND MAN CITY ARE TOP IN THE COMMUNITY WORK THEY DO.MAKES ME PROUD TO BE BLUE .WELL EDDIE.
A true local hero. Well done Eddie.
You were brilliant, Eddie.
I have worked with Eddie via Connexions and the Princess Trust / City's football in the community project. All young people and workers respect Eddie and admire what he has achieved. He's a real inspiration to the so called hard to reach kids. I hope we win the bid and provide the world with a showcase tournament.
Well done Eddie
Well done mate, a proud Manc & Blue!
From a United fan, you were brilliant Eddie.
Another Manchester United legend Denis Law is not so bothered about England becoming hosts. The Scot says: "I was on holiday when Euro 96 was played in England and my holidays for 2018 have been booked. I'm not interested in whether England get the World Cup finals." (Daily Record)
That first and foremost he's a sportsman and an ambassador of the game that was very kind to him. And that maybe because he's speaking to a bigoted Scottish paper, then it's OK.
And that maybe, as he is idolised in the red part of the City of Manchester, that Manchester would benefit greatly from a 2018 World Cup held in England, that he might have chosen his comments more carefully.
Never mind the countless numbers of the paparazzi following Beckham around Zürich, There are over 30 BBC employees on a big jolly over here for the thie booze up .... sorry, event ! According to one employees reckoning when I was watching City last night in the pub.
That's your Tax payers money keeping the pubs going ( amongst other things) on the Niederdorf here.
Alex Williams MBE should be given some credit for giving Eddie an opportunity to turn his life around.
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!
There's more to life than bloody football. Get a grip the lot of you. How can you be passionate about your so-called 'English' football team when it's managed by a foreigner. When it comes to football, England are the laughing stock of the World.
Eddie was astonishing, great emotion, great feelings and clarity, if we win the bid much of the kudos will be his. What a gem he is, he made me well up inside. He made me feel very proud to be an english football supporter and that does not happen very often these days.
If England get the nod Manchester City can take the credit. If they don't it's Beckhams fault.
Thank your Russia, you just saved the English taxpayer a fortune!
turned out nice again!