Italian defender Franco Baresi, the captain of AC Milan in the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 64.
AC Milan announced the news on Friday, with the club paying tribute to Baresi's example and integrity.
"We must be strong and gather every bit of energy, even at this saddest of times," AC Milan wrote on X, adding that Baresi's iconic number 6 shirt would be forever etched into the club's DNA.
Baresi won three European Cups and six Italian league titles with AC Milan during his playing career, which spanned from 1978 to 1997.
Born in Lombardy in May 1960, Baresi joined AC Milan's youth teams in 1974 before moving up to the first team in 1978 ahead of his 18th birthday.
He then became a starter at 18 and captain at 22, noticed for his technique, anticipation, and tackling skills, as well as his notable leadership qualities.
Baresi went on to form a defence feared by every striker in Europe, alongside Paolo Maldini, Mauro Tassotti, and Alessandro Costacurta.
In addition to his red and black club jersey, Baresi wore the blue of the Nazionale 81 times, including winning a World Cup title from the bench in 1982.
However, he did not make the trip to Mexico in 1986 following a disagreement with the national coach, and penalty shootouts in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup and then in the final in 1994 shattered his hopes of another triumph.
After retiring from playing, Baresi performed various roles for Milan, including a brief spell as technical director of English club Fulham, but he was back in Milan within a month.
He was never a man to feature in the gossip pages, preferring to spend time abroad for the Milan Foundation, which he found educational and rewarding.
Baresi underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, but the cause of his death was not specified by AC Milan.
The club has invited fans to stand united in memory of Baresi, knowing he'll guide and push them throughout their Rossoneri journey.
Baresi's legacy will be remembered for generations to come, and his impact on the club and the sport will be forever etched in the history books.
His funeral will be held at a later date, but fans are already gathering to pay their respects to the AC Milan legend.
Source: Yahoo Sports