The Career
Franco Baresi was born in Travagliato, in the province of Brescia, on May 8, 1960, and grew up in the local parish after losing both parents in his teenage years. He joined AC Milan at just 14, after being rejected by Inter — the team he supported as a child — and progressed through the entire AC Milan youth sector until his Serie A debut in 1977. He became the linchpin of the Milan defense and the most iconic captain in the club's history. With Milan, he played 719 official matches over twenty consecutive seasons, winning six Scudetti, three European Cups/Champions Leagues (1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94), two Intercontinental Cups, one Cup Winners' Cup, three UEFA Super Cups, and four Italian Super Cups, establishing himself as the most complete defender of his generation. With the Italian national team, he won third place at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and reached the final of the 1994 World Cup in the USA — where, despite returning from a meniscus injury, he took the first penalty in the shootout that cost Italy the title against Brazil. A gesture that became a global footballing legend, a symbol of courage and sportsmanship. AC Milan retired his number 6 in 1997, an honor reserved only for the greatest champions in AC Milan's history. After a brief stint at Fulham as technical director, he returned to AC Milan, holding management roles until his appointment as honorary vice-president in 2002. In February 2026, he was among the torchbearers at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. He passed away in Milan on July 31, 2026, at the age of 66, after a long illness following the removal of a pulmonary nodule in August 2025. The funeral was held in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan.
Why Collect a Franco Baresi Autograph
An original autograph by Franco Baresi is today one of the rarest and most significant pieces in global football collecting. All available autographs were signed by the Captain during his lifetime, before his passing on July 31, 2026: each piece therefore retains a historical and emotional value destined to grow over time, as Baresi's signature is no longer obtainable today. Baresi is unanimously considered one of the five greatest defenders in the history of world football, a champion who redefined the role of the modern libero and who embodied an idea of football made of intelligence, elegance, and silent leadership. His name is associated with the most successful AC Milan team of all time, with the magical European Cup nights of the 80s and 90s, and with a sporting ethic that made him respected and loved worldwide. His signature is particularly precious on AC Milan jerseys from the Scudetti and European Cup victories, on the blue jerseys of the National Team at Italia '90 and USA '94, on iconic photographs with the captain's armband, and on memorabilia related to the official retirement of the number 6 jersey.
Original Franco Baresi Autographs on MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the benchmark in Italy for high-level collecting. Every original Franco Baresi autograph available on MTM is selected with rigorous criteria of provenance and authenticity by our experts. Each signed piece is always accompanied free of charge by the MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts declaring the provenance and veracity of the autograph according to our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the piece, MTM autographs can be accompanied by additional internationally recognized third-party certifications — including COAs issued by entities such as PSA, JSA, Beckett, Epperson, Autograph COA, or Associazione Autografia — included in the price or purchasable separately. Each product sheet precisely indicates the certification available for that specific piece.