AC Milan and Italy great Franco Baresi dies aged 66
Franco Baresi, the World Cup-winning Italy defender who spent his entire 20-year club career with AC Milan, has died at 66.
In short
- Franco Baresi, the World Cup-winning Italy defender who spent his entire 20-year club career with AC Milan, has died at 66.
Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan and Italy defender regarded as one of football’s finest defensive players, has died at the age of 66, his club announced on July 31, 2026.
Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with Milan and captained the club for 15 seasons. He won six Serie A titles and three European Cup or Champions League trophies before retiring in 1997.
Milan later retired his number six shirt, making him the first player in the club’s history to receive that honour. He remained closely associated with the club and served as honorary vice-president.
At international level, Baresi was part of Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning squad and captained the national team to the 1994 final against Brazil. He earned 81 caps for Italy.
Baresi had undergone surgery in 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule and was prescribed follow-up treatment by a cancer specialist. Reports announcing his death did not state a cause.
