The global football community is united in grief this week following the announcement of the passing of Franco Baresi, one of the greatest defenders in the history of the sport and a defining icon of both AC Milan and the Italian men’s national football team. The AC Milan board confirmed the news of Baresi’s death at the age of 66 in an official public statement released on Friday.
A one-club man who dedicated his entire 20-year senior playing career exclusively to AC Milan, Baresi leaves behind a legacy defined by unparalleled loyalty, professional excellence, and on-pitch class. In tribute to his transformative impact on the club, AC Milan retired Baresi’s iconic number 6 shirt in his honor – making him the first player in Italian football history to receive this permanent club honor. In a statement shared by the club, representatives said: “The entire history of AC Milan weeps today.”
Baresi’s health journey began in August 2025, when he underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule, followed by a course of immunotherapy treatment. His final public appearance came just a few months before his death, when he took part in the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, carrying the Olympic torch into the San Siro Stadium alongside former Inter Milan defender Giuseppe Bergomi. It was the same ground where Baresi claimed many of his greatest career triumphs.
Baresi made his senior debut for AC Milan at just 17 years old, and remained unwaveringly loyal to the Rossoneri even when the club was unexpectedly relegated to Serie B in 1982. Remarkably, that same summer, Baresi was part of the Italian squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup – a career highlight that cemented his status as a rising star of Italian football. Over the course of his time at AC Milan, he led the club to six Serie A titles, three UEFA Champions League trophies, and a host of other domestic and international honors. His natural leadership and relentless defensive toughness made him the beating heart of AC Milan’s dominant, title-winning sides of the 1980s and 1990s.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the first public figures to pay tribute, praising Baresi as a global benchmark of dedication and sporting excellence. “With the passing of Franco Baresi, Italy loses not only one of its greatest ever champions, but also a symbol of loyalty and determination,” Meloni said.
Baresi’s death comes at a challenging moment for Italian football, which is still reeling after failing to qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup – a result that sparked widespread national disappointment and soul-searching across the country. For many observers, Baresi’s enduring legacy of loyalty, resilience, and class stands as a critical guiding light for an Italian football community seeking to rebuild and return to former glories.
Leading figures from across Italian football have joined fans in honoring Baresi’s memory and his decades-long impact on the sport. His son Giuseppe Baresi, who spent many years as captain of AC Milan’s cross-city rivals Inter Milan, and legendary former Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon were among those to share public tributes. Buffon, who came up against Baresi early in his own career, wrote: “For a boy my age, it was incredible to share the pitch with a champion like him. From that day on, I understood even better what it means to represent football with class, leadership and respect. Ciao Franco. Rest in peace.”
In 2020, Baresi was named honorary president of AC Milan, and remained actively involved with the club up until his death, a bond that will forever link his name to the Rossoneri’s identity. His legacy stretches far beyond his on-pitch trophy haul: he came to embody core values that unite football and supporters across divides. With his passing, Italian football has lost a legend who stood as a symbol of pride, resilience, and passion for an entire generation. His name will forever remain etched in the hearts of football fans across Italy and around the world.