Diego Milito

At 44 years old, Diego Milito has this physical status:

Diego Alberto Milito (born 12 June 1979) is an Argentine former professional footballer who competed as a striker. Milito's career with Racing Club began in 1999 in Argentina and then moved to Genoa in 2003.

He was a member of Real Zaragoza, a Spanish club, where he stayed for three seasons before returning to Genoa in 2008.

His prolific goalscoring exploits during his second stint with Genoa earned him a move to Inter defending Serie A champions Inter, where he was instrumental in the club's 2009-2010 championship winning campaign, scoring 32 goals in all competitions, including two goals in the 2010 UEFA Champions League Finals.

In 2014, he returned to Racing Club, where he had been a member of the Independence Club in 2016.

Milito played for Argentina, scoring 4 goals, and represented his country in two Copa América tournaments, winning a runners-up medal in 2007 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was named El Prêncipe ("The Prince") in Spanish because of his physical resemblance with former Uruguayan footballer Enzo Francescoli, who had the same name.

Milito, a prolific and consistent centre-forward, scored almost every two appearances during his career.

Personal life

Milito is a citizen of Italy; his paternal family immigrated to Argentina from Terranova da Sibari, Calabria. He also has Spanish roots on his mother's side. Milito is married to Sofa and they have three children. He is Gabriel's older brother, who competed against in Champions League games during Gabriel's time with Barcelona, most notably in the 2010 semi-finals, when both Diego and Gabriel were included in each team's starting lineup. Milito celebrated the birth of his third daughter, Morena, on May 21, the day of his retirement from professional football. Leandro's son is now a member of the Racing Club de Avellaneda Youth Organization.

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Club career

Milito first began playing for the first division of Argentine's first division team Racing Club in 1999, where he won the 2001 Apertura tournament. Gabriel, his younger brother, played for Independiente, Racing's top competitor, during this period as a defender. With the two brothers lining up against each other, the two teams will compete in the Avellaneda derby.

The people of Racing were in awe of the player. His outstanding scoring ability and natural talent made him a complete striker, which made his future outside of the club inevitable with a transfer to Europe.

The forward's future will be to Genoa, Italy.

Milito acquired a £8 million transfer to Genoa, Italy's second division team. Genoa were suspended to Serie C1 in the final game of the 2004-05 season against Venezia after two very successful seasons, with 33 goals in 59 games in Italy. Milito was forced to leave Genoa and join his brother Gabriel at Real Zaragoza in the Spanish La Liga due to this.

Milito scored four goals in the first semi-finals of the 2006 Copa del Rey to defeat Real Madrid 6-1. With 16 goals in the first division, he finished the season as Zaragoza's top scorer.

Milito was one of the best scorers in La Liga's 2006-07 season. He scored 23 goals, two fewer than league best goalcorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, and three behind European Golden Boot champion Francesco Totti.

After his two-year loan was set to expire, Zaragoza decided to buy him outright in November 2006.

Milito, the team's captain, deputing Gabby, who left for FC Barcelona in 2007, took over Zaragoza's captaincy. His deal was extended in August 2007 with a buy-out clause of €100 million. His goals lifted Zaragoza to a sixth-place finish in the league. Milito's average soared more than a goal every two games for Zaragoza in January 2008, a stat he also achieved with Genoa. During his three seasons with Zaragoza, he scored 61 goals.

Genoa completed the transfer of Milito from Zaragoza on September 1, 2008, just a few minutes before the transfer window closing time. Despite receiving more lucrative offers from other top European clubs, Milito's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, announced Milito's explicitly that he wanted to return to Genoa. He made his Serie A debut against Milan on September 14th. Genoa won the game 2–0 with Milito assisting the first goal and scoring the second. In the 4–0 win over Reggina on September 9, Milito scored his first hat-trick for Genoa. He played in 31 league appearances, placing him second behind Zlatan Ibrahimovi in the Capocannonieri scoring championships.

Diego Milito was moved to Inter Milan alongside teammate Thiago Motta on May 20, 2009. Both the transfer costs were €28 million and €10 million, but Genoa also received Robert Acquafresca, Leonardo Bonucci, Riccardo Meggiorini, Francesco Bolzoni, Ivan Fati, and cash in exchange.

In a 2–0 World Football Challenge victory over Milan, the striker adapted to his new environment quickly and had a fruitful start to his Internal career, scoring two goals. Inter is 4–0, with Milito contributing two goals and scoring a penalty against Milan in Serie A, his first Derby della Madonnina. In a 2–0 home win over Parma on September 13, he scored his second league goal in his second league victory. In Inter's next league match against Cagliari, he scored both goals for Inter in a 2–1 away victory. With 28 goals in 35 games and an average of 0.8 goals per game, he was ranked at the top of the all-time Serie A scoring charts for the highest strike rate. Milito continued his fine form with another goal against Napoli in the next league match, scoring the second goal after Samuel Eto'o scored in the first minute, a match that they won 3-1.

Milito had been consistent throughout his debut season at Inter, and after the first few games, he had established himself as a key contributor to the squad. Milito, who had recovered from an injury, scored Inter's fifth goal on October 30th in a 5–3 home win over Palermo, Milito, who had been back from a break. In the next game against Livorno, he scored another goal, taking his strike rate up to seven goals in nine league games. In a 2–1 Group Stage victory over Dynamo Kyiv on November 4th, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Wesley Sneijder in the 89th minute. He scored another crucial goal in another Champions League match against Chelsea on February 24th, this time in a 2–1 Round of 16 matches. Milito fired the matchwinner, giving Inter Milan a 3–2 victory over Udinese, giving the Nerazzurri a dramatic victory. Milito returned to a pivotal match against Roma on March 27th, after missing a 3–0 victory over Livorno due to a hamstring injury. He scored the winning goal in the Champions League quarter-finals over CSKA Moscow on March 31. Milito scored a crucial goal and assisted twice in a 3–1 home win over FC Barcelona in the team's first leg semi-final victory.

Milito was instrumental in Inter's victory of the first treble in Italian football during the 2009–10 season. In Inter's victory over Roma in the Coppa Italia's final on May 5, the Argentine scored the first goal of the season, allowing the Nerazzurri to claim their first trophy of the season. When Inter Milan defeated Siena 1–0 on the final matchday of Serie A, they were still Milito's goal, securing their 18th Scudetto. Inter was in a position to lose the league title to Roma at the half-time break, having played simultaneously against Chievo at that time. Milito himself set a new target of his career after winning a league championship to his team. Milito won the Champions League Final over Bayern Munich on May 22, 2010 despite scoring twice to win the Champions League Final. Inter defeated the European club champions for the first time in 45 years, defeating them 2–0 and completing their historic treble championship season.

Milito scored 30 goals in all competitions, 22 of which were in the league, two in Coppa Italia, and 6 in the Champions League.

Milito signed a new four-year deal with the Nerazzurri on August 9, 2010. Milito was named the best player and striker in the previous season's European club by the prestigious UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and UEFA Club Forward of the Year on August 26. Inter continued their good start with a win over Roma in the Supercopa Italiana. In the 2010 UEFA Super Cup match against UEFA Europa League champions Atlético Madrid, he failed to convert a penalty in the 90th minute, however; the Spaniards lost 2–0. In week one against Bologna, where Inter started the season with a goalless draw, he played his first game of the season in the league. Milito scored an accidental own goal in his first match of Champions League against Twente on September 14th. Milito scored his first goals of the season in a 4–0 victory over almost promoted club Bari in San Siro on September 22nd, assisting the team in winning the league's top-of-the-table standings. He then had to wait until October 10th to score his next goal, where he scored against Lecce in the 76th minute to put his team ahead of Lecce, but Lecce would equalize three minutes later with Uruguayan Rubén Olivera. Walter Samuel, his coworker who had to leave his season three days earlier after suffering from a severe knee injury, was devoted to his goal.

Milito scored a goal against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals; Inter went on to win the tournament in December. Milito was named on "Best Football Player" and "Best Footballer of the Year" by the Academy of California in January 2011 and "Best Footballer of the Year" for the 2009-2010 season. Milito scored just eight goals in 34 appearances in an injury-plagued season, finishing second in the league in second place.

Milito scored two goals in their first Serie A match of the 2011–12 season against Palermo. Milito recovered on the scoresheet after a dramatic show on September 24th against Bologna and, against Lille OSC on October 2nd, scoring his 200th goal with the club in a Champions League match won 2–1.

Milito played his 400th game in his career at Siena on November 27th, which culminated in a 1–0 victory for Nerazzurri, a 4–0 victory, while Cesena defeated Cesena 1–0 in a 1–0 victory on December 18th, his 100th game in Serie A. Milito was given the Bidone d'oro in December, a satirical award given to the worst Serie A player during a particular season. He scored in a 4–1 victory over Lecce in Inter's last match of 2011. Giampaolo Pazzini beat Parma 5–0 at San Siro on January 7, 2012, where he scored twice and assisted him in the victory. Inter won the Derby della Madonnina against Milan 1-0, with Milito scoring the only goal in 54th minute after an assist from Javier Zanetti, his 200th for an Italian club in all competitive competitions. In just nine derby matches played in Italy, with seven goals scored against Sampdoria and three in five in the Derby della Madonnina.

Milito scored all four Inter goals in a 4–4 draw at the San Siro on February 1, the first four-goal game in the Serie A since Christian Vieri's first four-goal match against Brescia (4–0) on December 1, 2002. It was also his second four-goal game, the first with Real Zaragoza in a Copa del Rey match against Real Madrid on August 8, 2006. Milito scored a hat-trick on 1 April in a 5–4 victory over Genoa, his old club Genoa's brother, and added another hat-trick on 6 May in the Derby della Madonnina, where Inter lost 4–2. Milito achieved more goals in an Inter shirt than Ronaldo's 49 in the all-time list of goals scored in an Inter shirt, with 50. It was also the fourth hat-trick victory in a Milan derby since Altafini on March 27, 1960; Amadei on November 6, 1949; and Nyers on November 1, 1953. Milito finished the season with 24 goals, four behind leader Zlatan Ibrahimovi, following the club's 3–1 loss to Lazio on May 13.

Milito's second goal of a 0–3 final victory over Pescara in the first game of the season, as they celebrated their second game of the season. He played his 100th Serie A match in an Inter shirt on October 28th, scoring his fourth goal of the season against Bologna. He scored his fifth goal against Sampdoria on October 31 in a game that ended 3–2 for Inter; it was also his 200th goal in his career over all competitions. He scored a double in Turin's 3–1 victory, putting an end to Juventus's 49-match unbeaten run at Juventus Stadium on November 4th.

Milito scored his 100th Serie win out of 197 games played between Inter and Napoli in December, where Milito scored a goal. Milito made the most goals scored in the 2012 calendar year, ahead of Napoli's Edinson Cavani (27) and Udinese's Antonio Di Natale (23).

Milito, who suffered from an injury in January, scored a goal and assisted with Esteban Cambiasso's attack in the home win over Chievo on February 10th. Milito's season of injuries continued, however, as he was injured in the seventh minute with a collateral ligament injury, anterior cruciate ligament, and capsule in his left knee. Milito said that the surgery to repair the injury was a success, but that the player will not return to the field for at least six months, effectively leaving him out of contention for the remainder of the season.

Milito returned to action against Sassuolo on September 22nd, having been on the bench in the previous match against Juventus. In a 7-0 away win over the Serie A newcomers, he scored a brace. However, he had been plagued by injury once more, effectively ending his season for a further ten matches. In a 1–0 home loss to Lazio on January 6, he rejoined the team and came as a late replacement. Milito scored 75 goals in 171 appearances during his five years with Inter, 62 of which were scored in Serie A.

Milito's first club, Racing Club, where he started his professional career in 2014, was confirmed. Milito scored on his Racing return to help the team beat Defensa y Justicia 3–1 over the Argentine championship's opening weekend. In a 1–0 victory over Arsenal de Sarand in week four of Argentine Primera División, on August 26, 2014, he scored a crucial goal with a penalty. Milito scored his third goal for Racing against Independence on August 31, 2014; he scored the goal in the 14th minute after Ricardo Centurión assisted him. Gustavo Bou, who scored the first goal in a 2–1 victory over Boca Juniors, had an assist. In a 4–0 win over Estudiantes on October 11, he scored his fourth goal of the season. Milito's fine form continued in his fine form against Club Olimpo, giving his third assist of the season. In the 41st minute of the game, Gabriel Hauche assisted him. Milito scored the fifth and sixth of the season on Sunday in a match against Rosario Central, which ended with a 3–0 win away. Racing soared to the top of the league after this victory, but one match remained for it to be over. He was on the field when Ricardo Centurión scored the vital goal against Godoy Cruz. The team qualified in the second stage of the 2015 Copa Libertadores, and racing was named champion of Transición 2014. It was Racing's first title in 13 years; Milito had also been on the team that claimed the title in 2001 and later went on to the club's only titles since 1966; he had also competed in the event's first championship since 1966. Milito said that winning the league with Racing was a dream come true.

Milito won by 2–0 over Temperley on May 21, his final match of his career at the age of 36. He ended his club career with 254 goals in 607 appearances in all leagues.

International career

Milito made his Argentina debut against Honduras on January 31, 2003, where he also scored his first goal. On July 16, 2003, he scored his second and third goals against Uruguay, but he appeared only occasionally in the upcoming years and was dropped from the 2006 World Cup team. He played for Argentina in the 2007 Copa América tournament, earning playing time after Hernán Crespo's injury in a Group Stage match against Colombia, where he scored a goal; Argentina advanced to the final, where they were defeated 3–0 by Brazil.

Milito's outstanding results during his time at Genoa led him to his being called more often, particularly under the reign of boss Diego Maradona, where Milito will often be deployed as a replacement. Maradona included Milito in the Argentina squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he will play in two games as Argentina defeated Argentina 4–0 in the quarter-finals by Germany. Milito and his brother Gabriel and Inter teammates Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso were among the 23-man team selected in new Albiceleste's 2011 Copa América squad, as well as his sister Gabriel and Inter teammates Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso on June 1, 2011. During the Olympics with Argentina, he did not participate in any matches, and Uruguay was disqualified in the quarterfinals by penalties.

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