Legendary Italian defender Franco Baresi, the iconic captain of the great AC Milan side of the 80s and 90s, has passed away. The club, with whom he won three Champions League titles and six Italian championships, announced his death this Friday. “AC Milan mourns the passing of Franco Baresi, who will forever remain, just like his number 6 jersey, an inseparable and fundamental part of the club’s DNA and history,” wrote AC Milan, where he had become honorary vice-president in 2020.
AC Milan did not specify the cause of death for Baresi, who had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule. “Dear tifosi, it will take me a little time to regain all my strength,” he had stated at the time.
Born in Lombardy (north) in May 1960, Franchino “Franco” Baresi joined AC Milan’s youth teams in 1974 before joining the first team in 1978 at the age of 17 years and 11 months. He became a starter at 18 and captain at 22, using his technique, sense of anticipation, tackling ability, and leadership character to compensate for a physique considered slender. He later formed a defense with Paolo Maldini, Mauro Tassotti, and Alessandro Costacurta that was feared by all strikers in Europe.
Runner-up for the 1989 Ballon d’Or behind his Dutch teammate Marco Van Basten, Baresi retired in 1997 after 719 matches with the Rossoneri, a record surpassed only by Paolo Maldini. In addition to his red and black jersey, Baresi wore the blue of the Nazionale 81 times.
A World Champion with Italy (without playing) in 1982 and a finalist in the 1994 World Cup, Franco Baresi is considered one of the greatest liberos in history. After the world title on the bench in 1982, he did not travel to Mexico in 1986 following a disagreement with the coach. Penalty shootouts, in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and then in the 1994 final, shattered his hopes for another crown.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-31 12:08:39 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
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