Crowds filled the streets of Milan on Tuesday to honor the life of legendary defender Franco Baresi. The 66-year-old, who dedicated his entire two-decade career to AC Milan, passed away last week following an illness. Baresi is widely celebrated as one of the sport’s finest defenders.
During his 15 years as captain, Baresi appeared 719 times for the club and netted 33 goals. His illustrious career with the Rossoneri included 18 major titles, featuring six Serie A crowns and three Champions League trophies. Internationally, he earned 81 caps for Italy and played a key role in the 1982 World Cup victory.
The memorial service at Sant’Ambrogio Basilica drew numerous football luminaries, including Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, and Roberto Baggio. While most of the current Milan squad is touring Australia, several players, such as Christian Pulisic, were present to pay their respects. The club plans to honor their former leader during Wednesday’s match against Inter.
Baresi, who served as honorary president of the club starting in 2020, left such a profound impact that AC Milan retired his iconic number six jersey. His legacy remains cemented as one of the most successful captains in the history of the sport.
