New Delhi, July 31 -- Italian football great Franco Baresi, who captained AC Milan during the club's dominant spell in the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 66, the club announced on Friday. The legendary defender led Milan to three European Cup titles and six Serie A championships.

Baresi was a key member of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup-winning squad and later captained the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final. Widely regarded as one of the finest sweepers the game has ever seen, he left an enduring legacy in world football.

AC Milan did not disclose the cause of the legendary defender's death. In August 2025, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a nodule from his lung. "It will take me a little time to get all my strength back," he ...