Franco Baresi has died

Franz Beckenbauer bestowed the accolade upon him one day in October 1987. He said: “He’s the best defender in the world. Perhaps in history.” “Better even than you?”, asked the journalist from the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The Kaiser merely smiled – it wasn’t as if Beckenbauer smiled all that often. “I don’t know. What I do know for certain is that there’s no one else like him around. There never have been, and who knows, there probably never will be.” “Why?” asked the journalist again. “Because he’s strong, commanding and decisive.”

This is how Franz Beckenbauer spoke of Franco Baresi, who died today aged 66. Double 6, “6 forever”, as read on a giant banner after the Captain’s final match. AC Milan confirmed the news this morning in a statement: “AC Milan’s history is in tears at the passing of Franco Baresi”. In August 2025, he had undergone surgery for a lung nodule. Since then, his public appearances had become fewer and fewer.

In October 1987, Franco Baresi had not yet won anything as a first-team player. Of course, there was the Mitropa Cup in the 1981–1982 season. And the 1982 World Cup, but he never took to the pitch. He was too young. At the time, he was simply known as ‘Piscinin’, Gaetano Scirea’s understudy.

He went on to win so much after that 1987 season: league titles, European Cups, Italian and European Super Cups. Never the Coppa Italia, though; he would later say that was his one regret. One of the few in an otherwise sensational career. The other was the missed penalty in the 1994 World Cup final, after returning to the pitch just 25 days following a meniscus operation.

A career that got off to a bad start, at one of the most troubled Milan sides in history. He played two seasons in Serie B, experiencing a rollercoaster of highs and lows, yet he never once questioned his place with the Rossoneri. And for one simple reason: “Is there any other shirt?” he asked Gianni Brera. Then came Silvio Berlusconi and the victories – many of them.

Franco Baresi knew how to be convincing. He spoke little off the pitch; on the pitch, he needed no words. His movements, his presence on the pitch, a single glance were enough. Often, he’d raise an arm to the sky. He’d raise it to signal offside. He was a walking video replay; nine times out of ten, he got it right. When he got it wrong, he didn’t apologise, but none of the Rossoneri fans held it against him. His opponents did, mind you, though they didn’t get too angry – after all, he was still Franco Baresi, captain of the national team, a player whom even the opposing ultras didn’t boo too much because they recognised his integrity on and off the pitch, and above all, his loyalty. Loyalty to the Rossoneri. He left Milan for just 81 days, from 23 May to 20 September 2002, during which time he tried his hand at being sporting director at Fulham. Officially, he left due to disagreements with manager Jean Tigana. Unofficially, as he told this writer, it was because “the reality is that I’ve never seen myself, I don’t see myself and I never will see myself in any other colours”.

Franco Baresi was, for a long time, the embodiment of Milan; for a long time, he was the face of Milan, embodying its spirit and dedication. His example has faded in recent years; even the team that could not forget – or so Gianni Mura put it – began to forget.