Football World Mourns Franco Baresi, AC Milan’s Iconic Defender

The global football community is in mourning after the death of Franco Baresi, the 66‑year‑old former Italy captain and AC Milan legend, who succumbed to illness on 31 July.

Regarded as one of the greatest defenders ever, Baresi was a seven‑time Ballon d’Or nominee and placed 33rd on the IFFHS 20th‑century best‑players list. He was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Baresi’s international résumé includes 81 appearances for Italy, a 1982 World Cup winner’s medal, and the captaincy of the 1994 World Cup squad that battled Brazil in a dramatic final despite his own knee injury.

At club level he spent two decades with AC Milan, capturing six Serie A titles, three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and four Italian Super Cups.

Milan retired his iconic number 6 jersey in 1997 and later appointed him honorary vice‑president in 2020, a role that kept him at the heart of the club until his passing.