Franco Baresi (born May 8, 1960 in Travagliato, Italy) was the outstanding football (soccer) central defender of the Italian national team team in four World Cups (1982, 1986 1990, and 1994). In World Cup 1994, he missed a penalty in the shootout after the 0-0 final.

Despite his modest physical appearance, Baresi became a famous football player by his extraordinary abilities to read the game and control the pace of the play. He is also one of the few players who has spent his entire career at one club (A.C. Milan), for which he played 444 games, scoring 12 goals. He retired from playing in 1996 aged 36. With Milan, Baresi won six scudeti and three Champions Cups. His #6 jersey was retired by the club, a rarity for Italian soccer.

His brother Giuseppe Baresi played for bitter rivals Internazionale.