A football match like no other will kick off in Osaka on Friday, June 27, the eve of Monaco’s National Day at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Titled “United through Legends,” the gala fixture will bring together iconic players from around the globe for a celebratory clash between the Barbagiuans of Monaco and the Japan All Star Team at the Panasonic Stadium Suita.
Organised by Louis Ducruet, President of the Barbagiuans, the match takes place under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, who will be present to support the event.
The Barbagiuans team will boast a glittering lineup of football legends, including Robert Pirès, Ludovic Giuly, Marcel Desailly, Rivaldo, Clarence Seedorf, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Patrice Evra. Facing them will be a stellar cast of Japanese greats such as Daisuke Matsui, Shoji Jo, Hisato Sato, Yoshito Okubo, and Takayuki Suzuki, with special guests expected to include Kazuyoshi Miura, Hidetoshi Nakata, and Keisuke Honda.
Held in the 40,000-seat home of Gamba Osaka, the match is more than a sporting spectacle—it’s a charitable event. Proceeds from the game and the post-match gala will go to Fight Aids Monaco, chaired by Princess Stéphanie, as well as to a number of Japanese charitable organisations.
