Ronaldinho to head Racing Stars Cup

Ronaldinho will play in Monaco’s Racing Stars Football Cup on June 3, adding one of football’s biggest names to a charity event that opens the Principality’s Grand Prix week. Organisers said the match will be held at Stade Louis-II at 3:30 p.m. and will bring together Formula 1 drivers, former footballers and entertainment figures. Monaco Life first reported the latest lineup on May 19, and the event page published by Barbagiuans Monaco lists the same date and venue. The game is part of a Monaco pre-Grand Prix tradition that has been revived under the Racing Stars Football Cup name. Barbagiuans Monaco, the home side, is led by president Louis Ducruet, while the opposing team is the Nazionale Piloti, the long-running squad associated with racing drivers and motorsport personalities. AS Monaco’s ticketing page lists the fixture as a friendly match on Wednesday, June 3. (monacolife.net) ### Who is organizing the match, and what exactly is it? Barbagiuans Monaco is staging the second edition of the Racing Stars Football Cup as a charity gala tied to Monaco Grand Prix week. The club’s event page describes it as a sporting and charitable gathering, and multiple Monaco-based outlets said proceeds will support charities rather than a commercial tournament format. (barbagiuansmonaco.mc) Louis Ducruet has been the public face of the revived event. Monaco-based coverage quoted him describing Ronaldinho’s appearance as a “historic moment” for the Barbagiuans, while the broader framing from organisers is that the match mixes sport, entertainment and fundraising. (barbagiuansmonaco.mc) ### Why is Ronaldinho the central draw? Ronaldinho is the most recognizable name announced for the 2026 edition, and organisers are presenting his participation as the headline attraction. Monaco Life and other local outlets said the former Brazil forward will wear the Barbagiuans jersey in what organisers expect to be the event’s highest-profile edition so far. (montecarloliving.com) The Brazilian’s résumé explains the billing. Ronaldinho won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, the 2005 Ballon d’Or and the Champions League with Barcelona, credentials highlighted in event coverage as Monaco markets the match to Grand Prix visitors and local fans. (monacolife.net) ### Which Formula 1 and celebrity names have been mentioned? Carlos Sainz Jr. and Pierre Gasly are among the Formula 1 drivers named in local reports previewing the match. Hello Monaco also listed entertainer Nikos Aliagas and comedians Paul Mirabel and Paul de Saint Sernin among expected participants, while other coverage mentioned football figures including Ludovic Giuly and Flavio Roma. (montecarloliving.com) Jacky Ickx has been named ambassador for the 2026 event, according to Hello Monaco. That follows a 2025 edition in which Mika Häkkinen served as ambassador when the event returned under its new name. ### How does this fit into Monaco Grand Prix week? June 3 is being billed by organisers as the curtain-raiser to Monaco’s Grand Prix week rather than a separate standalone sports date. (hellomonaco.com) Monaco Life, News.mc and the Barbagiuans page all describe the match as the opening event of the race-week program, using the football game to bring Formula 1 drivers into a public setting before track action dominates attention. That setup mirrors the event’s older identity. Monaco Tribune said the Racing Stars Football Cup replaced the former World Stars Football Match, preserving a pre-Grand Prix charity tradition that dates back more than three decades. (monacolife.net) ### Where can people follow or attend it? AS Monaco’s ticketing platform lists seats for the June 3 match at Stade Louis-II, with sales open to the general public. Organisers have also pushed the event through Barbagiuans Monaco’s website and local Monaco media outlets in the days before Grand Prix week begins. (monaco-tribune.com) June 3 at Stade Louis-II is the next fixed date in this story. Barbagiuans Monaco will face the Nazionale Piloti there at 3:30 p.m., with Ronaldinho, racing drivers and celebrity guests scheduled to take part. (barbagiuansmonaco.mc) (billetterie.asmonaco.com)