Maldini: Baresi was ‘the greatest footballer I ever played alongside’ Milan legend Paolo Maldini pays tribute to Franco Baresi: ‘You protected me when I was a child, guided me as a young man, and inspired me as an adult. You were the greatest footballer I have ever had the honour of playing alongside.’ World football mourns the death of legendary Milan and Italy defender Baresi, who has died at the age of 66. Among those paying tribute to Baresi was ex-Milan defender Maldini, a former teammate of Baresi with the Rossoneri and Italy national team. Maldini pays tribute to Baresi: ‘The light of your star will continue to guide us forever’ “Hi Franco. Today I feel the same way I did whenever, for any reason, you couldn’t take the field alongside us. How will we go on without you, Captain?” Maldini wrote on Instagram. MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: (L-R) Stefano Eranio, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Demetrio Albertini attend ‘Attaccante Nato’ Book Launch held at Sala Buzzati on April 21, 2010 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) “You taught me to fight until my very last breath, what it means to have a true bond with the shirt you wear, and the value of being a real leader. You taught me all of this through your example, every single day. Few words, but countless actions. “You protected me when I was a child, guided me as a young man, and inspired me as an adult. You were the greatest footballer I have ever had the honour of playing alongside. “My warmest embrace goes to your entire family, especially your wife Maura and your children, Edoardo and Giannandrea. “We will miss you, Captain. But the light of your star will continue to guide us forever.” View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Paolo Maldini (@paolomaldini) Baresi spent his entire playing career at Milan, making 719 appearances with the Rossoneri and winning several trophies, including six Serie A titles and the Champions League three times. Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule in August 2025 and began a course of immunotherapy. Baresi scored one goal in 81 appearances with the Italy national team, winning the World Cup in 1982 and reaching the final in 1994.
