Dejan Savicevic, the former AC Milan playmaker, has expressed his belief that the late Italian defender Franco Baresi deserved to receive the Ballon d’Or at least once during his storied career. Having played alongside the defender, Savicevic viewed the absence of the award in Baresi’s trophy cabinet as a major injustice.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the 59-year-old directed his frustration toward the media voters of that era. He specifically took issue with how Dutch players like Frank Rijkaard consistently placed higher in the rankings than the Italian icon. Savicevic praised the defender as a unique phenomenon, stating that the subject of the award remains a sore spot for him due to the perceived oversight.
Franco Baresi dedicated his entire two-decade professional tenure to AC Milan. He passed away on July 31, 2026.
