Italian Football Legend Franco Baresi Dies at 66 After Battle with Cancer

Franco Baresi, the legendary captain of AC Milan and 1982 World Cup winner with Italy, passed away at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer. Baresi was widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, having played 532 matches for Milan and leading the club during one of its most successful eras. He captained Milan from the 1982/83 season for 15 years and was a key figure in the team coached by Arrigo Sacchi, which included stars like Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta.

During his career, Baresi won three European Cups (now Champions League) in 1988/89, 1989/90, and 1993/94, the latter marked by a memorable 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the final. He also secured six Serie A titles and was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or voting, a rare achievement for a defender. Milan honored him by retiring his number 6 jersey, a distinction later also given to Paolo Maldini.

Internationally, Baresi represented Italy from 1982 to 1994, earning 82 caps and playing a pivotal role in Italy's 1982 World Cup triumph and the 1990 World Cup hosted by Italy, where he was named to the tournament's all-star team. He was recognized by the Italian Footballers' Association as the player of the century for both Milan and Serie A and was included among the 125 greatest footballers of the 20th century by Pelé. Baresi was affectionately nicknamed "The Emperor" and is also known in Israel as the second name mentioned in the song "Ve'eleh Shemot" by Arik Einstein.