In brief
Former AC Milan captain and Italian national hero Franco Baresi has died at 66. A twenty‑year tenure at Milan produced six Serie A titles and three European Cups, while his 719 appearances and 33 goals cemented his defensive prowess. Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy, lifting the 1982 World Cup and participating in the 1994 final. In 2020 he became AC Milan’s honorary vice‑president, and the club retired his #6 shirt in 2024. He had lung surgery in 2025 and made his last public appearance at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, a day before his passing. AC Milan’s statement recognised his integrity and lasting influence on the club’s DNA.
Franco Baresi, the iconic captain of AC Milan, died on July 31 at the age of 66.
Baresi spent his entire 20‑year playing career with the Rossoneri, debuting in 1977 and retiring in 1997. Over that time he secured six Serie A titles and three European Cups, a testament to his defensive mastery.
As captain for fifteen seasons, he made 719 appearances and scored 33 goals—remarkable figures for a centre‑back. In the national arena he was capped 81 times for Italy, celebrated the 1982 World Cup triumph, and appeared in the 1994 final against Brazil.
In 2020 he was named honorary vice‑president of AC Milan, and the club retired his #6 shirt four years later, underscoring his status in the club’s history.
After undergoing surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, Baresi’s final public appearance was at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February 2026.
AC Milan mourns the loss of a symbol of integrity and leadership, announcing that his example will forever shape the club’s DNA.
The world of football will remember Franco Baresi as one of its greatest defenders—a legacy forged on the San Siro pitch and in the hearts of fans worldwide.
