Italy and AC Milan legend Franco Baresi dies aged 66

Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan and Italy defender widely regarded as one of the defining figures of Italian football’s golden era in the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 66.

“The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi,” his former club said on Friday, July 31. “His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club’s DNA, just as his iconic No 6 shirt is.”

Baresi had faced health challenges in recent years. In 2025, AC Milan said he had undergone surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and had been prescribed recovery treatment by a cancer specialist.

Earlier this year, in February, Baresi appeared as one of the torchbearers at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Games, alongside former Inter Milan and Italy defender Giuseppe Bergomi, his longtime on-field rival.

A one-club man, Baresi spent his entire 20-year professional career at AC Milan, where he became a symbol of the club’s identity and success. He won six Serie A titles and three major European trophies, captaining the side for 15 seasons before retiring in 1997. In recognition of his contribution, Milan retired his No. 6 shirt — the first such honour in the club’s history.

On the international stage, Baresi was part of Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning squad and later captained the national team to the 1994 World Cup final. Italy narrowly lost that match to Brazil on penalties, with Baresi among those who missed in the shootout. Notably, he had played the full 120 minutes of the final just 25 days after undergoing knee surgery.

Baresi’s loyalty to Milan was evident early in his career, as he remained with the club during two relegations to Serie B in the early 1980s and helped guide them back to the top division on both occasions.

He served as the cornerstone of both Milan’s and Italy’s defences for nearly two decades, earning 81 caps for the national team and captaining Milan during one of the most successful periods in its history.

Renowned for his intelligence and positional awareness in an era dominated by physically imposing defenders, Baresi redefined the sweeper role by combining defensive authority with the ability to initiate attacks from deep.

He led a celebrated Milan defensive line that included Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti, helping to perfect the high defensive line and offside trap. That system underpinned the club’s remarkable 58-match unbeaten run in Serie A and contributed to Fabio Capello’s side being dubbed “Gli Invincibili” (The Invincibles).

By Tamilla Hasanova