Diego Milito
The late-blooming Argentine striker whose ice-cool finishing delivered a historic treble for Inter Milan in the season of his life.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Argentine footballer·Birthday: June 12·Generation X
Biography
Diego Milito was the ultimate testament to a striker's prime arriving on its own schedule. After prolific spells in Argentina and Spain, he arrived at Inter Milan in 2009 at age 30, seemingly as a supporting piece. Instead, he authored one of the most clutch individual seasons in football history. Under José Mourinho, Milito's intelligent movement and lethal left foot became the sharp end of a formidable team. In the 2010 Champions League final, he scored both goals to beat Bayern Munich. A week later, he netted the only goal to secure the Coppa Italia. He then capped it off with the two goals that sealed the Serie A title on the final day. In a matter of weeks, 'El Principe' delivered every trophy, his calmness in front of goal making the extraordinary look routine.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Diego was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Diego Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Diego's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored both goals in Inter Milan's 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich to win the 2010 UEFA Champions League final.
- His goals secured the Serie A title, Coppa Italia, and Champions League trophy for Inter Milan's historic 2010 treble.
- Finished as the top scorer in the Argentine Primera División in the 2002 Apertura tournament with Racing Club.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Gabriel Milito, was also a professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Barcelona.
Milito's nickname 'El Principe' (The Prince) was given due to his resemblance to Uruguayan footballer Enzo Francescoli, who had the same nickname.
He scored over 100 goals in Spain's La Liga during his time with Real Zaragoza and later with Genoa in Serie A.
“In one night, I scored the goals that gave us the title we had chased for years.”
