Franco Baresi: AC Milan Icon and World Cup Champion Dies at 66
Italian football legend and AC Milan stalwart Franco Baresi has passed away at the age of 66. The club confirmed his death, honoring the former captain whose name became synonymous with Rossoneri pride.
Baresi had undergone surgery for a lung nodule in 2025 and had recently returned to public life, even serving as a torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
He spent his entire professional career at AC Milan after joining the youth academy in 1974, making his Serie A debut in 1978. Over two decades, he amassed 719 appearances, captained the side for more than ten years, and helped secure six Serie A titles and three European Cups/UEFA Champions League trophies.
The club retired his iconic number 6 jersey in 1997, a testament to his lasting influence on the team’s identity.
On the international stage, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was part of the victorious 1982 FIFA World Cup squad. He later captained the Azzurri to the final of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, where Italy finished as runners‑up after a penalty shoot‑out loss to Brazil.
Despite missing his spot‑kick in that shoot‑out, Baresi remained widely admired for his leadership, composure, and unwavering loyalty—qualities that defined both his club and country careers.
Born in Travagliato near Brescia, Baresi was rejected by city rivals Inter Milan as a youth before finding his home at AC Milan. Despite interest from Europe’s elite clubs, he never left the Rossoneri, becoming one of the few modern footballers to devote his entire playing career to a single club.
After retiring in 1997, he continued to serve AC Milan in executive and ambassadorial roles, mentoring young talent and preserving the club’s heritage.
