AC Milan legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66: club mourns iconic defender and World Cup winner
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AC Milan legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66: club mourns iconic defender and World Cup winner
ContinuationAC Milan legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66: club mourns iconic defender and World Cup winner
Franco Baresi, the legendary AC Milan captain and World Cup-winning Italian defender, died on Friday at the age of 66, the club announced. AC Milan confirmed his passing in a statement on its website and social media, noting that Baresi’s legacy would remain forever tied to the club’s history, alongside his iconic No. 6 jersey .
Baresi, a central defender renowned for his vision, leadership and technical skill, spent his entire 20-season career at AC Milan, debuting for the senior team in 1978 at age 17. He became a regular starter at 18 and was named captain at 22, leading the club to six Serie A titles and three European Cups, later renamed the Champions League . He retired in 1997 after 719 appearances for the Rossoneri, a club record later surpassed only by Paolo Maldini .
With the Italian national team, Baresi won the 1982 World Cup as an unused substitute and reached the final in 1994, where Italy lost to Brazil. He earned 81 caps and formed the backbone of a defense that included Maldini, Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta . In 1989, he finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting behind teammate Marco van Basten .
AC Milan did not disclose the cause of death. Baresi had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule and had previously spoken of recovering his strength afterward . The club, where he served as honorary vice president since 2020, described him as an indelible part of its identity .
Tributes poured in from former teammates and rivals. Ruud Gullit, who played alongside Baresi at Milan, posted on social media, calling him “forever my captain” . Baresi’s career was also marked by his role in Arrigo Sacchi’s revolutionary Milan side, which dominated European football in the late 1980s and early 1990s .
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