When Diego Maradona honored Franco Baresi with a priceless gesture
The death of Franco Baresi sparked a worldwide outpouring of tributes, and among the most shared posts was a historic video of Diego Maradona from his Napoli days. The clip captures Maradona wearing Baresi’s iconic number‑6 shirt and expressing his admiration.
La reaction was immediate across social media, with messages and memories flowing from fans, players and journalists around the globe. The surge of posts highlighted how deeply Baresi was revered in the football community.
Among the flood of tributes, the video featuring Maradona emerged as the most shared content, illustrating the respect the Argentine star felt for the Italian defender. It quickly became a symbol of the mutual admiration between the two icons.
The footage was recorded in October 1989 in the corridors of the San Paolo stadium, shortly after a match between Napoli and AC Milan. The arena, now bearing the name of the 1986 World Cup champion in Mexico, provided the backdrop for the memorable exchange.
In the sequence, Maradona is seen walking after the game still dressed in Baresi’s number‑6 jersey. A journalist approaches him, asks about the shirt, and Maradona replies: “This is a shirt of a great player. I think Franco Baresi is the best defender, this is a memory I will keep for life.”
The recording resurfaced and went viral in the last hours, spreading across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter). Hundreds of users shared the clip, reinforcing the lasting impact of the gesture.
Franco Baresi, the legendary AC Milan and Italy centre‑back, died at the age of 66. His legacy was reaffirmed by gestures like Maradona’s, recalling the fierce rivalry between Napoli and the Rossoneri during the 1980s.
Baresi himself often praised Maradona, describing him as a “myth, an idol for all young fans” and recalling the beautiful duels of the late 1980s. In a later interview he said, “If I had to choose the strongest opponent I played against, it would be Maradona.”
The brief exchange captured in the video represents more than a personal anecdote; it epitomises the spirit of respect and sportsmanship that defined the great rivals of that era, linking two of football’s most iconic figures.