Franco Baresi, AC Milan legend and World Cup champion with Italy, dies at 66
Franco Baresi, the legendary AC Milan defender and World Cup champion with Italy, has died at the age of 66.
AC Milan announced Baresi's death on Friday. The club did not disclose a cause of death. Baresi had undergone surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule in August 2025 and later received immunotherapy treatment.
His final public appearance came during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February, where he carried the Olympic torch into San Siro alongside former Inter Milan captain Giuseppe Bergomi.
In a tribute, AC Milan described Baresi as the heart and soul of the club, praising his integrity, leadership and lasting influence. The club said his legacy would remain a permanent part of its identity and extended condolences to his family and supporters.
Widely regarded as one of soccer's greatest defenders, Baresi spent his entire professional career with AC Milan after making his first-team debut in 1978 at the age of 17.
He remained loyal to the club even after it was relegated to Serie B in 1982 and was named captain at just 22 years old. During his career, he made more than 700 appearances and helped lead Milan through one of the most successful eras in its history.
Baresi won six Serie A titles, three European Cups and Champions League trophies, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Super Cups and four Italian Super Cups with Milan.
On the international stage, he helped Italy win the 1982 FIFA World Cup and later captained the national team to a runner-up finish at the 1994 World Cup. He also finished second in Ballon d'Or voting in 1989 behind teammate Marco van Basten.
When Baresi retired in 1997, AC Milan retired his iconic No. 6 jersey, becoming the first Italian club to permanently retire a player's shirt number. He was later named the club's honorary president in 2020.
Baresi's path to Milan nearly took a different turn. As a youth player, he was turned down by Inter Milan, which instead signed his older brother, Giuseppe Baresi. The brothers later became captains of their respective clubs, creating one of the most memorable rivalries in the history of the Milan derby.
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