AC Milan mourns Franco Baresi.

The Italian football club AC Milan announced today, Friday, the death of its former captain in the 1980s and 1990s, Franco Baresi, who won three titles in the European Cup and six titles in the domestic league, at the age of 66.

Milan, of which Baresi became an honorary vice president in 2020, wrote on the platform "X": "Milan mourns the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will forever be etched in the DNA of the club, just as his legendary number 6 jersey."

Baresi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 1982 and was a runner-up in the 1994 World Cup, is considered one of the greatest libero players in the history of football.

AC Milan did not specify the cause of Baresi's death.

The former Italian international underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule.

He said shortly afterward: "It will take some time to regain my full strength."

Franco "Franchino" Baresi was born in Lombardy in May 1960 and joined the youth teams at Milan in 1974, before being promoted to the first team in 1978 just before turning eighteen.

He quickly became a key player at the age of 18 and captain of the team at 22, known for his technical skills, ability to anticipate and intercept, as well as his outstanding leadership qualities.

Baresi, alongside Paolo Maldini, Mauro Tassotti, and Alessandro Costacurta, formed a defense that was feared by all attackers in Europe.

He retired in 1997 after playing 719 matches in the "Rossoneri" jersey, a record surpassed only by Maldini.

In addition to his red and black club jersey, Baresi represented the Italian national team in 81 matches.

However, after winning the World Cup in 1982 from the bench, he did not participate in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico due to a dispute with the national team coach.

Penalty shootouts in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and then in the final of 1994 shattered his hopes of winning another world title.