Football Legend Franco Baresi Passes Away: Tributes Pour In for AC Milan Icon
July 31, 2026
An English version of the piece was translated from Italian by AI, with readers encouraged to flag translation issues if needed.
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Milan’s official statement and coverage from outlets like Gazzetta dello Sport and dpa highlighted condolences from political figures such as Matteo Salvini ahead of formal confirmation.
Contextual tributes included other posthumous remembrances, such as FIFA President Infantino honoring another late footballer, underscoring a broader wave of commemorations.
Several Italian outlets linked his death to his illness, though formal medical confirmation of the exact cause remained pending at times.
A Football Italia live tribute show featured commentators and began at specific BST/CET times to honor Baresi’s legacy.
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Reports indicated he passed away overnight after recent lung surgery to remove a mass, with initial reports circulating before formal confirmation.
Milan confirmed his passing amid tributes detailing his leadership, integrity, and enduring influence on both the club and the national team.
He battled a pulmonary nodule with surgery in August 2025 and later received specialized treatment; in February 2026 he appeared publicly carrying the Olympic torch at the Milano Cortina Winter Games opening ceremony.
A legendary one-club defender for AC Milan, Baresi spent his playing career from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s and earned the club's No. 6 in his honor; he also shone for Italy from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s.
Tributes are ongoing across outlets, with TNT Sports noted as a related source and app download prompts accompanying coverage.
Summary based on 88 sources
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Sources

AP News • Jul 31, 2026
Former AC Milan defender Franco Baresi dies at 66 | AP News
New York Post • Jul 31, 2026
Italian soccer legend Franco Baresi dead at 66
Economic Times • Jul 31, 2026
Who was Franco Baresi? Italy World Cup winner and AC Milan legend passes away at 66
Economic Times • Jul 31, 2026
Who is Franco Baresi? Legendary AC Milan and Italy defender dead at 66 - Check cause of death