The Barbagiuans of Monaco won the sixth edition of the Fight AIDS Cup after an intense and emotionally charged match, played under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, President and Founder of Fight Aids Monaco. All funds raised during the event will be donated to the association, which is dedicated to the fight against HIV.
Organised by Louis Ducruet and the Barbagiuans of Monaco, the Fight AIDS Cup has, over the years, established itself as a fixture on Monaco’s sporting and charitable calendar. Set within the prestigious context of the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, the event once again combined gala atmosphere with elite football, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the Stade Louis-II. Legends of the global game gathered on the pitch, reinforcing the Cup’s dual ambition: competitive sport in service of a vital cause.
For this sixth edition, Cirque FC was captained by Andriy Shevchenko, the Ballon d’Or winner in 2004, and coached by Marco Simone. They faced Louis Ducruet’s Barbagiuans of Monaco, who were managed from the bench by Ludovic Giuly, sidelined by injury and unable to participate as a player.
The match began at a brisk tempo. The Barbagiuans opened the scoring early through Javier Chevanton, setting the tone for a lively contest. Cirque FC responded swiftly, with Maxime Gonalons leveling the score at 1-1. What followed was a tightly contested encounter, marked by high intensity, numerous chances at both ends and sustained commitment from both sides, all played out in a remarkable atmosphere created by the crowd.
Neither team managed to break the deadlock during regulation time, and the match concluded in a 1-1 draw, necessitating a penalty shoot-out. After a long and tense series of spot kicks, goalkeeper Flavio Roma produced a decisive save. The winning penalty was then converted by Olivier Veigneau, sealing victory for the Barbagiuans of Monaco.
The result marked the Barbagiuans’ second triumph in the history of the Fight AIDS Cup, following four previous victories by Cirque FC. Louis Ducruet lifted the trophy alongside his teammates and will return to the competition in 2027 as the defending champion.
The evening continued with the traditional gala, during which the Fred Allard Trophy - created by the artist Fred Allard and awarded to the best player of the match - was presented to Eden Hazard. Making his first appearance in the Fight AIDS Cup, the former Belgian international delivered a top-class performance that was warmly applauded by the knowledgeable crowd at the Stade Louis-II and by the organisers.
With strong attendance and a prestigious line-up of players, this sixth edition once again confirmed the growing enthusiasm surrounding the Fight AIDS Cup and the cause it supports. For six years, under the leadership of Louis Ducruet, the Barbagiuans of Monaco have worked closely with Fight Aids Monaco, turning the event into a powerful symbol of solidarity, sport and generosity.
“This Fight AIDS Cup represents far more than a football match,” Louis Ducruet, President of the Barbagiuans of Monaco and organiser of the event, said. “Seeing football legends come together and such strong commitment around the cause championed by Fight Aids Monaco is a tremendous source of pride. This victory is a collective one, in service of an essential cause.”
He added: “It is an immense pleasure each year to play alongside players I admired when I was younger - and whom I still admire today. History will remember that this Fight AIDS Cup was the first to be honoured by the presence of a Ballon d’Or winner, Andriy Shevchenko, and that it also marks the Barbagiuans’ second victory. I will therefore be delighted to return next year as the defending champions. Until then, an exciting programme awaits us in 2026…”
Photo credits: Frédéric Nebinger, Philippe Fitte / Palais Princier de Monaco, Direction de la communication