Franco Baresi has sadly passed away at the age of 66. He's best remembered for his time with AC Milan, where he shone as one of Europe's best defenders during the 1980s and 1990s.
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AC Milan announces Baresi's death on Thursday, July 30.
"The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi," AC Milan wrote in a statement. "His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club's DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is.
AC Milan's statement then continued by sharing their condolences with Baresi's family.
"The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi's family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own."
Currently, there's no information regarding what led to Baresi's death.
In 2025, Baresi reportedly underwent surgery to remove a "pulmonary nodule that was discovered during routine medical tests," per TMZ. No information regarding the mass was ever released; therefore, nobody knows whether the mass was cancerous.
His last public appearance came at AC Milan's stadium, the San Siro, as part of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony earlier this year.
Franco Baresi Is Among the Greatest Soccer Players of All Time
Baresi is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of all time. He enjoyed a legendary career spanning twenty seasons, all of which he spent with AC Milan. In total, he made 719 appearances in Serie A, Italy's top soccer league. He won six domestic championships during his career, three of them coming consecutively between 1992 and 1994.
"Throughout his illustrious career, Baresi embodied unwavering loyalty, staying with AC Milan even during its most challenging years," Milan's website says of the defender.
Outside of Serie A, Baresi won three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and four Italian Supercups. Having operated as team captain for 14 seasons, Baresi was voted as the team's player of the century in 1999.
Currently, there are no further details regarding Baresi's passing, including anything to do with his impending funeral. That information will undoubtedly remain private for family and close friends.
