Cirque FC beat the Barbagiuans (5-4) in the fifth edition of the Fight AIDS Cup, staged at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday and featuring a star-studded cast.
Under the floodlights of the Stade Louis II on a rainy night in Monaco, former stars of the game descended on the Principality to raise funds for Fight AIDS Monaco. “The Fight AIDS Cup is more than just a sporting event. It’s a celebration of solidarity and generosity in the service of an essential cause: the fight against HIV/AIDS and support for those affected,” said Prince Albert II, the honorary president of the Barbagiuans, who were looking to regain the Fight AIDS Cup following their defeat last January.
They enlisted the help of former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane. The Frenchman, crowned World Champion in Russia back in 2018, returned to the pitch, just four months after announcing his retirement due to injury.
There were plenty of other stars on show elsewhere for the Barbagiuans, captained by Louis Ducruet with the likes of Patrice Evra, Ludovic Giuly also featuring, whilst for Cirque FC, Franck Ribery, Robert Pires and Monaco’s academy manager Djimi TraorĂ© also on display in front of 800 fans, who had braved the elements to watch the spectacle.
It was Anthony Modeste, who had only recently retired, who got the first. Giuly then levelled proceedings before the legendary Sonny Anderson saw the Barbagiuans take for the first time in what was a topsy-turvy encounter. It may have been a friendly match but there was also plenty of bite with Evra, formerly of Manchester United and Pires, formerly of fierce rivals Arsenal, involved in plenty of intense battles down the right-hand side.
Modeste netted his second before the break and completed his hat-trick in the opening seconds of the second half as Cirque FC turned the game on its head once again. Giuly then got his second of the night to bring the scores level at 3-3 but then a Pires finish and an effort from range from Bakary Sako saw Cirque run away with it.
Serge Gakpé then reduced the deficit to just one goal with just a few minutes remaining but Cirque FC hung on for the win. There were plenty of goals off the pitch, but one major one off it.
Varane happy to make a return to the pitch
“[The event] was a great success both on and off the pitch, with the presence of football legends, a great show and nine goals, and off the pitch, with the substantial funds raised for FIGHT AIDS Monaco, the ultimate goal of our campaign,” said Ducruet, president of the Barbagiuans.
“We had good fun and for a good cause too! It was great to put the boots on again, have fun with the fans that have come down, with my teammates from multiple generations. It was very fun,” added Varane, who will have to return next year if he is to get his hands on the Fight AIDS Cup.
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Feature image credit: Pool FIGHT AIDS CUP 2025