AC Milan great Franco Baresi dies at 66 after period of ill health
Why it matters: The longtime Milan captain won 6 Serie A titles and reached the 1994 World Cup final with Italy.
Franco Baresi, the AC Milan and Italy defender widely regarded as one of football's great center backs, has died at 66 after a period of ill health. Baresi spent his entire professional career with Milan, captaining the club for 15 seasons and anchoring one of Europe's most celebrated back lines alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti. He won six Serie A titles, two European Cups, four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. For Italy, he helped lead the national team to the 1994 World Cup final, returning from a knee injury to play against Brazil. Milan, Maldini, Inter and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to a player remembered for loyalty, leadership and defensive brilliance.