Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan defender and Italy World Cup winner, dies at the age of 66, his former club confirms. Widely regarded as one of Italian football’s defining defenders of the 1980s and 1990s, Baresi spent his entire professional career with AC Milan and captained the team for 15 seasons. During his time at the club, he helps lead Milan to major honours, including three European Cups and six Serie A titles, and he is later honoured by the club retiring his number six shirt.
For Italy, Baresi is part of the squad that wins the 1982 World Cup. He also captains the national team at the 1994 World Cup, which ends with defeat to Brazil on penalties in the final.
Several outlets also report details about his health in the months leading up to his death. In August 2025, Baresi undergoes surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and begins treatment under a cancer specialist, including a course of immunotherapy. AC Milan issues tributes following his passing.
