Franco Baresi, a central figure for both Italy and AC Milan, has died at 66. AC Milan expressed deep sorrow, noting that his influence and moral character are permanently woven into the team’s history.
Baresi committed his entire two-decade professional tenure to the Italian side, playing from 1977 through 1997. During this time, he secured three European Cup titles and six Serie A championships. Widely considered one of the finest defenders in soccer history, he wore the captain’s armband for 15 seasons, totaling 719 games and 33 goals.
Internationally, he made 81 appearances for Italy, helping them secure the 1982 World Cup trophy. He also participated in the 1994 final against Brazil. Following his retirement, he served as honorary vice-president starting in 2020, and the club eventually retired his number 6 jersey.
Baresi underwent a procedure to extract a lung nodule in August 2025. He was last seen by the public at the San Siro during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony held in February.
