AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, marking the passing of one of football’s most iconic defenders. The news was announced by the club on Friday, confirming that Baresi, who spent his entire career with AC Milan, has passed away. No cause of death was disclosed, though it was noted that Baresi had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule and had been receiving immunotherapy (arabnews.pk).
Baresi, who captained AC Milan through one of the club’s most successful eras, is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in history. He made 719 appearances for the club across 20 seasons and played a key role in their three European Cup victories and six Serie A titles (dublinlive.ie). His legacy is further cemented by his role as an honorary vice-president of AC Milan, a position he held since 2020 (vanguardngr.com).
Baresi’s last public appearance was at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February, where he carried the torch into San Siro, the stadium he once called home (thehindu.com). Tributes have poured in from across the football world, with AC Milan stating that “the entire history of AC Milan is in tears” (arabnews.pk). His death marks the end of an era for the club and Italian football.
