AC Milan and Italy great Baresi dies aged 66

What the report says

Nile Post, citing BBC Sport, reports that AC Milan and Italy football great Franco Baresi has died aged 66. AC Milan announced the death of their former captain, describing him as a defining figure in the club’s identity. The report did not provide a cause of death, but noted that Baresi had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule and that his last public appearance was at San Siro during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February.

Baresi spent his entire senior playing career at AC Milan, joining the first team in 1977 and retiring in 1997. He became club captain at 22 and led the side for 15 seasons. Across 719 appearances, he scored 33 goals and helped Milan win six Serie A titles, three European Cups/Champions Leagues, four Supercoppa Italiana trophies, two European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. The club later retired his No. 6 shirt, and in 2020 named him honorary vice-president.

Internationally, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was part of the squad that won the 1982 World Cup. He also featured in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil, returning from a knee injury to help Italy hold the match to a goalless draw before Brazil won on penalties.

Baresi is widely remembered as one of football’s outstanding defenders and as a central member of Milan’s famed back line with Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti. His death marks the loss of a player closely associated with one of the most successful eras in AC Milan’s history.