In brief
Franco Baresi, the stalwart defender who spent his entire 20‑year career with AC Milan, has died at 66. He captained the club for 15 seasons, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups, and earned 81 caps for Italy, helping win the 1982 World Cup. Baresi’s legacy is cemented by the club’s retirement of his number 6 jersey and tribute to his integrity as part of Milan’s DNA. The club mourns his passing, noting that his presence will forever be an emblem of the team’s heart. The former captain’s death marks the end of an era for Italian football.
Franco Baresi has passed away at the age of 66. The former AC Milan captain and 1982 World Cup champion left an indelible mark on Italian football, having spanned a 20‑year playing career with the club from 1977 to 1997.
During that time, he helped Italy win the World Cup in 1982 and played in the 1994 final, contributing to a total of 81 national caps. At club level, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, amassing 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals while securing six Serie A titles and three European Cups.
AC Milan has mourned his loss, issuing a statement that noted his example and integrity would forever be etched into the club’s DNA. The club had previously honored him in 2020 by making him an honorary vice‑president and later retired his iconic number 6 jersey.
Baresi’s final public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February, after a surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule. The football community has united in grief, remembering him as one of the sport’s greatest defenders.
