[Official Announcement] AC Milan's Eternal Captain Has Finally Become a Star in the Sky... Franco Baresi Passes Away at 66

*This content was translated by AI.

Franco Baresi, the "Eternal Captain" of Italian football powerhouse AC Milan, has become a star in the sky after a long battle with illness. He was 66 years old.

On the 31st (Korean time), AC Milan officially confirmed Baresi's passing through its official website and social media, issuing a statement that reads: "Everyone at Milan is shedding tears over Baresi's death."

Baresi, who had been suffering from complications following COVID-19, underwent surgery to remove lung nodules last year and continued his long-term battle with illness. The previous day (the 30th), local Italian media reported that Baresi had died. In an unusual move, AC Milan issued a formal statement denying the report: "Baresi is going through a difficult time. We deny these false reports. Please respect Baresi's family's privacy and do not spread baseless information."

Ultimately, no miracle occurred. Baresi is regarded as one of the greatest defenders in football history, transcending both Italy and AC Milan. As a member of the 1982 World Cup-winning squad, he played 81 matches for the Italian national team alone, leading the team to third place in the 1990 World Cup and runner-up position in the 1994 World Cup as a starting player.

However, the stage where he shone brightest was AC Milan, the club he was with from the beginning of his football career until his death. A product of AC Milan's youth academy, Baresi made his Serie A debut in April 1978 at the age of 17 and wore only the Rossoneri (AC Milan's black-and-red jersey) throughout his entire career until retiring in 1997.

Playing exclusively for AC Milan, he appeared in 470 Serie A matches, scoring 12 goals, and recorded a total of 33 goals in 719 official matches. Over 19 years, he won 18 major trophies, including six Serie A titles, three UEFA Champions League titles (including the predecessor European Cup), three UEFA Super Cups, and four Supercoppa Italiana, elevating AC Milan to become Europe's top team.

He is also known as the "Eternal Captain." Appointed captain at just 22 years old during the 1982–1983 season, he wore the armband for 15 years until his retirement. Moreover, even when AC Milan was relegated to Serie B twice, he remained with the team until the end, moving fans deeply. Naturally, after his retirement, his jersey number 6 was designated as a permanently retired number.

Through its official website, AC Milan mourned: "The exemplary conduct and profound character shown by Baresi will remain forever as an indispensable foundation within the club's DNA and legacy, just like his eternal number 6."

It further added: "In this difficult moment, AC Milan's condolences to all of Franco Baresi's family are shared by every Rossoneri fan who accepts this loss as their own pain."

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*This content was translated by AI.