Former Italian footballer Franco Baresi, an iconic figure for AC Milan and the Italian national team, has died at the age of 66, his former club announced.
“His example and integrity will forever remain embedded in the club’s DNA, just like his iconic number 6 shirt,” AC Milan said in a post on X.
In August 2025, the Rossoneri, where Baresi had become honorary vice-president, announced that he had undergone surgery to remove a lung nodule and had been placed under the care of a cancer specialist.
Franco Baresi remains a legendary figure at AC Milan, where he spent his entire 20-year playing career. During his time with the club, he won six Serie A titles and three European Cups, and served as captain for 15 seasons. When he retired from professional football in 1997, the club decided to retire his number 6 shirt permanently.
The former central defender was a member of Italy’s 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad and captained the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final, where they were defeated by Brazil in a penalty shootout. Remarkably, he played the full 120 minutes of the match just 25 days after undergoing knee surgery. He earned 81 caps for the Italian national team.
