Just hours away from the Award ceremony, the Fair Play Menarini once again reveals an exciting surprise on the eve of its 29th edition. To heighten the anticipation for the official events, scheduled on July 2nd and 3rd in Florence and Fiesole, the Fair Play Menarini Foundation is proud to unveil the name of yet another outstanding figure among the 2025 awardees. Alessandro Costacurta, a true icon of Italian football, who will take to the stage of the Roman Theatre of Fiesole alongside the remarkable athletes already announced in recent weeks and two major sports legends: Ian Thorpe and Giancarlo Antognoni, both of whom have already been inducted into the Fair Play Menarini Hall of Fame.

For two decades bedrock of AC Milan’s defence, “Billy” Costacurta brings with him a legacy of unparalleled sporting ethics, both as a part of Milan and the Italian National teams. His list of accolades is nothing short of extraordinary, including 7 league titles, 5 Champions League trophies, 5 Italian Super Cups, and 4 UEFA Super Cups, all won with the “rossoneri”. At the Fair Play Menarini International Award, he will be joining two other legendary athletes. Giancarlo Antognoni, historic captain and emblematic player in the Fiorentina team, as well as Fair Play Menarini awardee in 2015, eagerly awaits the arrival of Ian Thorpe, Australian swimming phenomenon, holder of unforgettable world records and Fair Play Menarini Ambassador since 2022. Together, their presence will help complete the mosaic of sporting excellence celebrated by the Award.

Alessandro Costacurta, photo by Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Images

“Welcoming Costacurta among this year’s awardees makes this edition even more special – commented Valeria Speroni Cardi and Filippo Paganelli, Board Members of the Fair Play Menarini Foundation – Throughout his career, he has embodied the most authentic values of sport, as do Ian Thorpe and Giancarlo Antognoni, who are part of our history and, as Ambassadors of the Award, continue to represent the profound meaning of what we celebrate each year”.

Joining Alessandro Costacurta on stage for the 29th Fair Play Menarini International Award will be Gianmarco Tamberi, Olympic and world high jump champion; Sasha Vujacic, two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers; and Demetrio Albertini, a symbol of Italian football in the 1990s. The prestigious lineup also includes Andy Díaz, indoor world champion in triple jump; Alice Bellandi, recent judo world champion; Nadia Battocletti, Olympic silver medallist in the 10.000 metres; Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy, Paralympic gold medallist in discus throw; Blanka Vlasic, high jump legend; Arianna Errigo, one of the most decorated foil fencers in history; and Guido Meda, the unmistakable voice of MotoGP.

Giancarlo Antognoni

The 29th edition of the Fair Play Menarini International Award is supported by the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale as Institutional Partner, and by Sustenium, Frecciarossa, Estra, and Adiacent as initiative partners.

To keep up to date on the protagonists, relive the most exciting moments, and find out all the latest news, visit the official website https://www.fairplaymenarini.com/en and the Award’s social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Ian Thorpe