Franco Baresi, the AC Milan icon widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, has died at the age of 66. The Italian club confirmed the news on Thursday, paying tribute to a man they called the embodiment of "the heart and soul" of the Rossoneri.
Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career at Milan, joining the youth academy in 1971 and retiring in 1997 after 719 first-team appearances and 33 goals. He captained the club for 15 seasons, lifting six Serie A titles, three European Cups — now the Champions League — four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups.
Born in Travagliato, near Brescia, on 8 May 1960, Baresi was raised in Milan's youth system alongside his brother Giuseppe. He made his senior debut in 1977 and quickly established himself as the defensive cornerstone of Arrigo Sacchi's legendary side of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti, he formed part of one of the most celebrated backlines European football has ever seen.
On the international stage, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was a key member of the squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. He returned to the global stage at the 1994 tournament in the United States, captaining Italy to the final despite recovering from a knee injury. In the showpiece against Brazil, he played the full 120 minutes of a goalless draw before missing the opening penalty in the shootout, which Brazil won 3-2.
After retirement, Baresi remained closely linked to AC Milan. He was appointed honorary vice-president in 2020, and in 2024 the club retired his iconic number six shirt — a tribute reserved for the very few. His last public appearance came in February 2026 at the San Siro during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
Baresi had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Tributes poured in from across the football world. Maldini, who played alongside Baresi for over a decade, wrote on Instagram: "You taught me to fight until my very last breath, and showed me the meaning of devotion to the jersey. You were the greatest footballer I ever had the honour of playing with." Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon recalled his professional debut against Baresi as a 17-year-old in 1995, calling the experience "something incredible."
AC Milan said in a statement: "Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan is incredibly difficult. In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he'll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever."
Sources
- https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2026/07/31/italy-ac-milan-great-franco-baresi-dies-aged-66_fb55459e-8598-4a49-a3e3-91561d74a5cf.html
- https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/world/2026-07-31-ac-milan-and-italy-great-baresi-dies-aged-66
