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Franco Baresi, one of football’s greatest defenders, has died at the age of 66, AC Milan confirmed on Friday.
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The legendary centre-back spent his entire 20-year playing career with AC Milan, winning three European Cups and six Serie A titles.
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 Baresi also starred for Italy, lifting the 1982 FIFA World Cup and captaining the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final.
July 31, (THEWILL) — Franco Baresi, the iconic AC Milan captain and one of the greatest defenders in football history, has died at the age of 66.
AC Milan confirmed the passing of the club legend on Friday but did not disclose the cause of death.
Baresi had reportedly been battling health challenges in recent months. In August 2025, he underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule before beginning immunotherapy treatment. Despite his illness, he made a memorable public appearance in February when he carried the Olympic torch into the San Siro during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games alongside former Inter Milan captain Giuseppe Bergomi.
In a heartfelt tribute, AC Milan described Baresi as a player whose influence would remain woven into the club’s identity forever.
“The entire Rossoneri family mourns the loss of one of the greatest figures in our history. His example, leadership and integrity will always remain part of AC Milan’s DNA, just like his iconic No. 6 shirt,” the club said while extending condolences to his family.
Baresi devoted his entire professional career to AC Milan after making his first-team debut in 1978 as a teenager. Over the next two decades, he established himself as one of the finest defenders the game has ever seen, making more than 700 appearances for the club.
Appointed captain at just 22, he led Milan through one of the most successful periods in its history, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups while forming a formidable defensive partnership with fellow club legends Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.
His remarkable contribution to the Rossoneri was recognised when Milan retired his famous No. 6 jersey, the first shirt retirement in the club’s history.
On the international stage, Baresi enjoyed an equally distinguished career with Italy. He was part of the squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup before later captaining the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final in the United States.
One of the defining moments of his international career came during that tournament when he recovered from knee surgery in time to play the entire 120 minutes of the final against Brazil. Although Italy eventually lost on penalties, his courageous performance became one of the most celebrated displays of determination in World Cup history.
Baresi finished his international career with 81 appearances for Italy and earned widespread recognition as one of football’s greatest sweepers, admired for his intelligence, anticipation and composure rather than physical dominance.
His influence extended well beyond Italian football. During Serie A’s golden era in the late 1980s and 1990s, millions of fans across Africa followed AC Milan’s success, with Baresi’s elegant style of defending inspiring generations of young players.
As tributes continue to pour in from across the football world, Franco Baresi leaves behind a legacy that transcends trophies and statistics. He will be remembered as a defender who redefined his position, a one-club legend whose loyalty became as iconic as his performances, and a footballer whose impact on the game will endure for generations.
