Franco Baresi, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest defenders, has passed away at the age of 66. The Italian football icon spent his entire 20-year professional career with AC Milan from 1977 to 1997, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the club’s success during one of its most dominant periods.
During his time at Milan, Baresi captained the club for 15 seasons and made 719 appearances while scoring 33 goals from the defensive position. His trophy cabinet included six Serie A titles, three European Cups or Champions League titles, four Coppa Italia Supercoppa trophies, two European Super Cups, and the Intercontinental Cup won twice. In recognition of his contributions, the club retired his number six shirt and appointed him as honorary vice-president in 2020.
Baresi represented Italy at international level, earning 81 caps and featuring prominently in the nation’s 1982 World Cup-winning squad. He captained the Italian team in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil, where he delivered a notable defensive performance despite playing through a knee injury that had limited his participation earlier in the tournament. Italy fell to Brazil in a penalty shootout, with Baresi missing one of the spot kicks.
Throughout his Milan career, Baresi formed part of one of European football’s most celebrated defensive units alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, and Mauro Tassotti. His consistent excellence earned him recognition beyond club and country, finishing second in the 1989 Ballon d’Or voting. He underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule and made his final public appearance at San Siro Stadium in February for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Following his death, tributes poured in from across football, including statements from AC Milan, fellow legend Maldini, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and rival club Inter Milan, all highlighting his character, leadership, and significance to Italian football history.
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