Thousands of supporters filled the streets of Milan on Tuesday as the football world gathered to say goodbye to Franco Baresi, one of the finest defenders the sport has ever produced. Baresi passed away last week at the age of 66 following a period of illness.
The service took place at the Sant'Ambrogio Basilica, drawing a host of AC Milan icons and former teammates who came to honor the man who spent his entire career at the club and became synonymous with its identity. Among those present were Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Clarence Seedorf, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Costacurta, all of whom shared the pitch with Baresi during some of the most successful years in the club's history.
Baresi's connection to AC Milan spanned decades. He wore the captain's armband for 15 seasons, racking up 719 appearances for the Rossoneri and contributing 33 goals from his position at the heart of the defense. His leadership and consistency helped Milan dominate both domestic and European football during his tenure, with the club amassing an extraordinary 18 trophies while he was on the roster. That haul included six Serie A titles, three European Cup/Champions League triumphs, four Italian Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and two Intercontinental/Club World Cups.
His influence extended well beyond club level. Baresi earned 81 caps for the Italian national team and was part of the squad that lifted the World Cup in 1982. Twelve years later, he wore the captain's armband for Italy in the 1994 World Cup final, a match that ended in heartbreak as the Azzurri fell to Brazil.
In recognition of his extraordinary service to AC Milan, the club retired his number six shirt after he hung up his boots, ensuring no future player would wear it. In 2020, Milan further honored his legacy by naming him honorary president of the club, a role that cemented his status as one of the most revered figures in the organization's history.
The current AC Milan squad was unable to attend the funeral in person, as the team is currently on a pre-season tour in Australia. However, several first-team players who were not part of the traveling group made the effort to be present, including American forward Christian Pulisic, underscoring how deeply Baresi's passing has been felt across generations of Milan players.
The club is expected to pay further tribute to its former captain ahead of Wednesday's friendly against city rivals Inter Milan, a fixture that Baresi himself contested many times during the fierce Milan derbies of his playing days. Such a tribute would add another layer of remembrance for a player who came to define what it meant to represent the Rossoneri with distinction.
Baresi's legacy as a defender is often cited among the greatest of all time, praised for his reading of the game, his composure under pressure and his ability to organize a back line with minimal fuss. His trophy haul and longevity at the top level of both club and international football place him among a select group of players who shaped the sport during their era.
As mourners lined the streets of Milan to bid farewell, the scenes reflected not just the loss of a football great, but the deep emotional bond between Baresi and the city he represented with such distinction for so many years.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.