Franco Baresi's AC Milan legacy analysed as Paolo Maldini leads tributes to late Italy legend

Franco Baresi, the legendary AC Milan and Italy defender wide regarded arsenic 1 of the top players successful shot history, has died astatine the property of 66 aft a conflict with illness.

Milan confirmed the quality connected Friday, starring tributes to a subordinate who spent his full nonrecreational vocation with the Rossoneri and became 1 of the defining figures successful the club's history.

Baresi had been receiving attraction since undergoing country to region a pulmonary nodule successful August 2025 earlier opening a people of immunotherapy, and his last nationalist quality came successful February, erstwhile helium carried the Olympic torch into San Siro alongside erstwhile Italy teammate and rival Giuseppe Bergomi during the opening ceremonial for the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

The Rossoneri paid an affectional tribute to their honorary vice-president, saying that the full nine was successful tears pursuing the nonaccomplishment of 1 of its greatest-ever servants, portion proprietor Gerry Cardinale praised Baresi for embodying the values and individuality of Milan passim his life.

AC Milan pb tributes to Franco Baresi

Milan besides said that Baresi's leadership, professionalism and illustration would proceed to animate aboriginal generations, with the nine insisting his bequest would stay woven into its DNA alongside his retired fig six shirt.

"The full past of AC Milan is successful tears pursuing the passing of Franco Baresi, Milan wrote connected their X account.

"His illustration and integrity volition beryllium everlastingly etched into the club's DNA, conscionable arsenic his iconic No 6 garment is.

"The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi's household astatine specified a hard clip are shared by each Rossonero, who feels this nonaccomplishment arsenic their own."

La Storia del Milan è successful lacrime per la scomparsa di Franco Baresi. Il suo esempio e la sua profondità saranno, per sempre travel la sua maglia numero 6, parte integrante e fondamentale del DNA e del cammino di tutto il Club. Le condoglianze che AC Milan porge alla famiglia tutta… pic.twitter.com/a8wNOCUc2o

Former teammate Paolo Maldini was among those to wage tribute, describing Baresi arsenic the subordinate who taught him what it genuinely meant to deterioration the Milan shirt.

"You taught maine to combat until my precise past breath, and showed maine the meaning of devotion to the jersey and the worth of being a existent leader. You did this done your example, each azygous day: fewer words, but countless actions, Maldini wrote connected Instagram.

"You protected maine erstwhile I was a child, guided maine arsenic a young man, and inspired maine arsenic an adult. You were the top subordinate I ever had the honour of playing with.

"Sending a lukewarm clasp to your full family, particularly your woman Maura and your sons, Edoardo and Giannandrea.

"We volition miss you, captain. But the airy of your prima volition proceed to usher america forever."

Baresi remained intimately associated with the Rossoneri aft retiring, taking connected coaching and ambassadorial duties earlier being appointed honorary vice-president successful 2020, a relation that kept him astatine the bosom of the nine helium served for decades.

Franco Baresi’s vocation was built connected loyalty and success

Baresi spent 20 years with Milan aft making his first-team debut successful 1977, captaining the nine for 15 seasons earlier retiring successful 1997 without ever representing different nonrecreational side.

He made 719 appearances successful each competitions, winning six Serie A titles, 3 European Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups and 4 Italian Super Cups during 1 of the astir palmy eras successful Milan's history. 

In designation of his bonzer loyalty, the nine permanently retired the No. 6 garment pursuing his retirement.

On the planetary stage, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was portion of the squad that won the 1982 World Cup successful Spain. 

Twelve years later, helium captained the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup last against Brazil, famously returning from genu country conscionable 25 days earlier to play each 120 minutes earlier Italy mislaid connected penalties.

Widely regarded arsenic the finest libero of his generation, Baresi became synonymous with composure and leadership, portion his determination to stay with Milan done the club's relegation pursuing the 1980 match-fixing ungraded cemented his presumption arsenic 1 of the astir loyal and respected figures successful shot history.