AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66
The death of the one-club defender removes a foundational figure from Italian public life and strips AC Milan of the captain who defined its modern identity.
Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan captain and 1982 World Cup winner, has died at the age of 66. He spent his entire 20-season professional career with the Milan club, making 719 appearances and cementing a legacy as one of Europe's most formidable defenders.
During his two decades on the pitch, Baresi secured six Serie A titles—beginning with his first as a teenager in the 1978-79 season—and added three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and four Italian Supercups. For Italy, he earned 81 caps, lifting the 1982 World Cup and reaching the 1994 final, which ended in a penalty defeat to Brazil.
For AC Milan as an institution, Baresi represented the bedrock of its golden era. The club retired his No 6 jersey, a rare distinction that underscores how closely his personal identity is tied to the Milan brand. His death marks the passing of a figure who embodied the club's values during a period that established Milan as a dominant commercial and sporting force in European football.
His influence extended beyond club football into broader Italian civic life. Months before his death, Baresi made his last public appearance at a packed San Siro for the Milan Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The club noted he helped make that global event unforgettable, highlighting his enduring status as a symbol of the city.
Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago said "Italian football has lost one of its legends". He described Baresi as an "extraordinary champion who wore only two jerseys throughout his career: AC Milan and the Azzurri." Milan stated "The entire history of AC Milan is in tears", adding that "His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA."
Paolo Maldini, who spent 25 years with Milan, called Baresi the "greatest player" he played with. Maldini wrote that Baresi taught him to "fight until my very last breath" and showed him the "meaning of devotion to the jersey". Sending a warm embrace to Baresi's wife Maura and sons Edoardo and Giannandrea, Maldini noted the light of his star would guide them forever.
