Italian football legend Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, his former club AC Milan confirmed on Friday.
The club paid tribute to one of its greatest-ever players, describing him as a symbol of its history whose leadership, integrity and commitment would remain forever embedded in the club’s identity.
No official cause of death was announced, although Baresi underwent surgery in 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule before beginning a course of immunotherapy.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, Baresi spent his entire 20-year professional career with AC Milan.
He made more than 700 appearances for the Rossoneri, captained the club for 15 seasons and helped them dominate European football in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
During his illustrious career, he won six Serie A titles and three European Cups. In recognition of his remarkable service, Milan retired his famous No. 6 jersey following his retirement in 1997.
On the international stage, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was part of the squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.
He later captained the Azzurri to the final of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where they lost to Brazil on penalties.
He also finished runner-up to teammate Marco van Basten in the 1989 Ballon d’Or voting, underlining his status as one of the finest players of his generation.
Baresi remained closely linked with AC Milan after retirement, serving in leadership roles at the club.
His final public appearance came during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February, when he carried the Olympic torch into the San Siro alongside former Italy defender Giuseppe Bergomi.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the football world, honouring a player whose influence, loyalty and achievements have secured his place among the greatest defenders the game has ever produced.
