MILAN (AP) 鈥� Franco Baresi, the former captain who was one of most acclaimed defenders, has died. He was 66.
His death was announced on Friday by Milan, the club where he spent his entire 20-year playing career. No cause of death was given.
鈥淭he entire history of AC Milan is in tears,鈥� Milan said.
In August 2025, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and subsequently began a course of immunotherapy.
His last public appearance was at the opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February, when along with former Inter Milan defender Giuseppe Bergomi, he carried the torch into the San Siro 鈥� the stadium he formerly played in.
鈥淗is example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club鈥檚 DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is,鈥� Milan added. 鈥淭he condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi鈥檚 family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own.鈥�
Baresi was on Italy’s team that won the World Cup in 1982.
鈥淲ith the passing of Franco Baresi, Italy loses not only one of the greatest champions in its sports history, but also an example of loyalty, professionalism, and dedication,鈥� Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on X.
One-club player
Baresi, who was widely regarded as one of the , was a true one-club player. He progressed through the ranks at Milan and made his first team debut at the age of 17, in April 1978.
He chose to stay with Milan even after it was relegated to Serie B 鈥� for the second time in three seasons 鈥� in 1982, just before he helped Italy win the World Cup that summer, and was given the captaincy at the age of just 22.
Baresi made more than 700 appearances for the Rossoneri, captaining the team to global dominance in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
With Milan, Baresi won three Champions League trophies, six Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Supercups and four Italian Supercups.
鈥淔or generations, Franco embodied the values, character and excellence that define this club,鈥� Milan owner Gerry Cardinale said. 鈥淓ven as he battled his greatest challenge over the last year, he was always there for the club, quietly reminding us all what it means to wear these colors.
鈥淔ranco鈥檚 legacy is profound and will endure forever. Our thoughts are with his family and all those whose lives he touched.鈥�
In his final interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport last year, Baresi said he recalled being a 鈥淢ilanista鈥� (Milan fan) as a little kid.
鈥淲hen I arrived at Milanello (Milan鈥檚 training center) for the first time as a 14-year-old it seemed like entering paradise,鈥� Baresi said.
First jersey to be retired
As well as the 1982 World Cup, Baresi also helped Italy finish runners-up in the 1994 competition 鈥� although he was one of three Azzurri players to miss a penalty in the shootout defeat to Brazil in the final.
Baresi finished runner-up to teammate Marco van Basten in the Ballon d鈥橭r awards in 1989.
When Baresi retired in 1997, Milan also retired his No. 6 jersey 鈥� which was a first for Italian soccer. The club also held a celebration match in his honor, featuring many soccer stars Baresi had played with and against.
Baresi was made honorary president of Milan in 2020.
鈥淚talian soccer has lost one of its legends,鈥� Italian soccer federation president Giovanni Malag貌 said, labeling Baresi 鈥渁n extraordinary champion who wore only two shirts for his entire career: those of Milan and Italy.鈥�
鈥淲e will have a tribute to remember him the next time the national team plays,鈥� Malag貌 added.
Inter Milan’s Baresi
It could have all been so different for Baresi and Milan, however. Baresi had trials at Inter when he was younger but he was rejected by the Nerazzurri, who opted to sign his older brother Giuseppe Baresi, with Franco Baresi going on to join the youth team of their fierce city rivals.
Giuseppe also captained his team and the image of the two Baresi brothers exchanging pennants before kickoff became the symbol of the Milan derby throughout the late 80s.
鈥淥n November 19, 1995, I made my Serie A debut against Milan. I was 17 years old, and on the other side was the captain of that team: Franco Baresi,鈥� former Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon said on X, referring to his Italian league debut with Parma.
鈥淔or a boy my age, finding myself on the field against champions like him was something incredible,鈥� Buffon added. 鈥淔rom that day on, I had an even clearer understanding of what it meant to represent football with class, leadership, and respect. Ciao Franco. Rest in peace.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report.
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