Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, AC Milan announced in a statement saying their former captain's "example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA".

Baresi spent his entire 20‑year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues. He made 719 appearances and scored 33 goals, captaining Milan for 15 seasons.

He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad that won the 1982 World Cup, also playing in the 1994 final loss to Brazil. In 2020 Baresi became honorary vice‑president of AC Milan, and the club retired his number six shirt four years later. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history.

Baresi underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, and his last public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February. AC Milan’s statement on X read: "Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is."