Former AC Milan and Italy defender Baresi dead at 66
Italian football legend and former AC Milan defender Franco Baresi has passed away at the age of 66. The club expressed deep mourning, honoring his legacy as a central figure in the team's history.
Why it matters
Baresi is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the sport, and his death marks the end of an era for Italian football.
FILE PHOTO: Italian soccer legend Franco Baresi attends a news conference in Hong Kong, China, May 16, 2011, to announce the launch of the AC Milan Soccer Schools in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou in southern China. REUTERS/Bobby Yip/File Photo Football - Newcastle United Legends v AC Milan Legends - Steve Harper 20 Years Charity Match - St James' Park - 13/14 - 11/9/13 AC Milan Legends' Franco Baresi makes his way to the pitch Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Craig Brough An AC Milan fan lays flowers next to a shirt of former captain Franco Baresi at Casa Milan following his death at the age of 66, in Milan, Italy, July 31, 2026.
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