In a spectacular showdown at Stade Louis-II, Princess Stéphanie’s Cirque FC claimed victory in the fifth edition of the Fight AIDS Cup, edging out His Serene Highness Prince Albert II’s Barbagiuans in a high-scoring 5-4 match. The charity tournament, held on the sidelines of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, raised funds for Fight Aids Monaco and featured a heartfelt tribute to Didier Guillaume and former AS Monaco legend Jean Petit, who passed away following last year’s edition.
Led by football icons Franck Ribéry and Christian Karembeu, Cirque FC struck early, with Anthony Modeste capitalising on a defensive error by Patrice Evra to score the opener. However, the Barbagiuans quickly responded with Ludovic Giuly levelling the match after a sharp assist from Evra, who redeemed his earlier misstep. The back-and-forth battle continued as Sonny Anderson’s precise finish restored the Barbagiuans’ lead, only for Cirque FC to equalise moments later.
The second half saw Cirque FC pull ahead with goals from Robert Pirès and Bakary Sako, leaving the Barbagiuans scrambling to keep up. Despite Ludovic Giuly completing his hat trick, matching Anthony Modeste’s impressive three-goal performance, the Barbagiuans fell just short of a comeback.
Post-match, Anthony Modeste celebrated Cirque FC’s dominance: “The cup stays with us! We played with determination and confidence. And we’ve already secured a star player for next year—Raphaël Varane has promised to join us!” Meanwhile, Ludovic Giuly expressed disappointment: “I planned to win, but the referee missed three clear penalties. It should have been 5-5.”
Despite the loss, Barbagiuans veteran Youri Djorkaeff acknowledged Cirque FC’s impressive performance: “They played very well, and we gave it everything.”
Cirque FC’s latest triumph solidifies their dominance in the Fight AIDS Cup, with four victories in five editions. The Barbagiuans will be eager to reclaim the trophy in the sixth edition, aiming to disrupt Cirque FC’s growing legacy in this cherished charitable event.