Former AC Milan captain and Italy international footballer Franco Baresi passed away

Former AC Milan captain and Italy international footballer Franco Baresi passed away

¨     Former AC Milan captain and Italy international footballer Franco Baresi passed away on 31 July 2026 at the age of 66.

¨     He spent his entire senior club career with AC Milan, playing from 1977 to 1997 and making a total of 719 appearances for the club.

¨     Franco Baresi is regarded as one of the greatest defenders in AC Milan’s history.

¨     He won six Serie A titles and three European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan.

¨     In recognition of his contribution, AC Milan retired his No. 6 jersey after his retirement from professional football.

¨     At the international level, Baresi was part of the Italy squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

¨     He also captained Italy in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where Italy reached the final but lost to Brazil in a penalty shootout in the United States.

¨     In August 2025, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule.

¨     Later, he received immunotherapy treatment as part of his medical care.

¨     His final public appearance came in February 2026, when he carried the Olympic torch into San Siro Stadium with Giuseppe Bergomi during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

¨     Franco Baresi will always be remembered in football history for his exceptional defensive skills, leadership qualities, and long-standing commitment to AC Milan and Italian football.