Milan came to a standstill Tuesday as football luminaries and fans paid their respects at the funeral of AC Milan legend Franco Baresi, who passed away last week at the age of 66. The service was held at the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio.
Baresi, who spent his entire 20-year playing career at AC Milan, including two stints in Serie B in the 1980s, was honored by former teammates and club officials. The club had previously retired his iconic No. 6 jersey in recognition of his legendary status.
Among the prominent attendees were Paolo Maldini, Baresi's defensive partner and mentee, and Ballon d'Or winner Marco van Basten, who served as a pallbearer. Other former AC Milan stars present included Roberto Baggio, Mauro Tassotti, Clarence Seedorf, Demetrio Albertini, and Alessandro Costacurta. Players who carried Baresi's coffin into the church included Daniele Massaro, Roberto Donadoni, Filippo Galli, Angelo Colombo, and Giovanni Galli.
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The current AC Milan squad, currently on pre-season tour in Australia, was represented by injured players Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez. The team is set to wear black armbands in their upcoming match against Inter Milan in Perth.
Fans lined the streets, waving replica jerseys and chanting tributes to Baresi, who was widely considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. Chants of "there's only one captain" and "you are forever Franco Baresi" were heard, alongside the singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone."
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Fabio Capello, Baresi's former manager at Milan, was also in attendance. Beppe Bergomi, a former rival and friend, read the first reading during the ceremony. Bergomi had recently appeared with Baresi during the Olympic flame ceremony at San Siro for the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Baresi's career began after he was initially rejected by Inter Milan's academy. He joined AC Milan's academy and made his senior debut at 17. Known by the nickname "Piscinin," meaning "little one," he remained with the club through two relegations in the 1980s before leading them through their golden era under managers Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.
He was named runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 1989 and was a member of Italy's 1982 World Cup-winning squad. He also captained the Azzurri in the 1994 World Cup final, where they lost to Brazil on penalties.
Baresi had undergone lung surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule and later received cancer-prevention immunotherapy.