Malick Thiaw etched his name into an unfortunate chapter of AC Milan’s history after scoring a second own goal of the season against Torino, matching a long-standing record set by club legend Franco Baresi.
During Saturday’s Serie A clash on February 22, Thiaw inadvertently handed Torino the lead just five minutes into the match.
A miscommunication with goalkeeper Mike Maignan saw the 23-year-old German defender accidentally deflect the ball into his own net, repeating a costly mistake he had already made earlier this season.
Thiaw’s first mishap against Torino occurred on the opening day of the Serie A campaign, August 17, 2024.
In that match, the AC Milan centre-back, under minimal pressure, mistakenly directed the ball past Maignan in the 30th minute, giving Torino an unexpected advantage.
Despite the early setback, Milan recovered to secure victory, but Thiaw’s error lingered as a blemish on an otherwise solid defensive display.
This weekend’s repeat incident, however, has placed Thiaw alongside Franco Baresi in an unwanted statistic.
Baresi, one of Milan’s most iconic defenders, similarly scored two own goals against the same team, Pescara, during the 1992-1993 Serie A season.
Though Baresi’s legacy remains untarnished thanks to his decades of excellence and leadership at the club, Thiaw now shares a record he would rather have avoided.
The latest own goal against Torino not only rekindled memories of Baresi’s rare defensive lapses but also highlighted the pressure that comes with wearing AC Milan’s colours.
While Baresi’s career saw him score eight own goals — a testament to the high-risk nature of his defensive role — his status as a Rossoneri legend remains unshaken.
Thiaw, still early in his career, will now aim to move past this chapter and solidify his place as a reliable figure in Milan’s backline.
The timing of Thiaw’s error on Saturday couldn’t have been worse. Just minutes into the match, his attempted clearance, meant to relieve pressure, instead caught Maignan off-guard and found the back of the net.
The early own goal handed Torino momentum and left Milan chasing the game from the outset.
While defensive errors are part of football, repeating the same mistake against the same opponent in a single season is a rarity — and one that will weigh heavily on Thiaw.
However, the young German defender, known for his resilience and composure, will look to bounce back as Milan continues its Serie A campaign.
The incident also serves as a reminder of the fine margins in football, where even the smallest lapse in communication can shift the course of a match.
For Thiaw, the focus will now be on regaining confidence and ensuring that this moment remains a footnote rather than a defining chapter in his time at AC Milan.
As for the Rossoneri faithful, history shows that even the greatest defenders can falter. Whether Thiaw follows Baresi’s path of turning setbacks into success remains to be seen — but the opportunity is certainly there.
