Franco Baresi, AC Milan and Italy great, dies at 66
Why it matters: Baresi spent 20 years at Milan, won six Serie A titles and helped Italy win the 1982 World Cup.
Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan captain and one of Italy's most decorated defenders, has died at 66. AC Milan paid tribute to the club great, whose 20-year playing career ran from 1977 to 1997 and included six Serie A titles and three European Cups or Champions League trophies. Baresi made 719 appearances for Milan, captained the side for 15 seasons and later served as honorary vice president. For Italy, he earned 81 caps, was part of the 1982 World Cup-winning squad and led the team to the 1994 final against Brazil. Baresi had surgery in 2025 to remove a lung nodule and made his last public appearance at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan in February.