Diego Milito’s stunning highlights against Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final went viral as fans were left in awe at the Inter Milan legend’s performance.
Inter signed the 42-year-old Argentine from Genoa in 2009, with Robert Acquafresca heading in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
And Milito would become an instrumental part of Jose Mourinho’s historic treble-winning team, with the ex-striker linking up with Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto’o.
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Mourinho’s men secured a sensational 3-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team at the San Siro in their first-leg semi-final Champions League clash.
Barcelona beat Inter 1-0 at the Camp Nou in the return leg, but Inter’s resilient performance ensured their ticket to the final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Milito delivered a sensational performance against Bayern that earned him the UEFA Man of the Match, with the former Argentina striker firing his side into a first-half lead.
The Inter legend capped off a superb performance by completing his brace late in the second half, with Mourinho subbing Milito off in injury time for Marco Materazzi.
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Milito’s double over Louis van Gaal’s men ensured Inter won the Champions League and became the first -- and only -- Italian team to complete a continental treble.
One fan called the former Inter star’s showing against Bayern the “greatest performance of a [No] 9 in the UCL final in history.”
Someone else added: “The fact that [Lionel] Messi had the [Ballon d’Or] in 2010 when players like him [Milito] or [Wesley] Sneijder or [Andres] Iniesta or Xavi existed is incomprehensible.”
“Above Sneijder with Inter in 2010 in my book,” a third Twitter user posted.
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While a fourth tweeted: “The incredible Diego Milito. Not even in the Ballon d’Or list afterwards, despite having an exceptional season.”
And a fifth wrote: “One of the performances that impressed me the most behind Kaka vs Man United.”
Milito spent five seasons at the San Siro and lifted a Serie A title, a Champions League, two Coppa Italias and an Italian Super Cup before returning to Racing Club in 2014 for a second spell.
Mourinho later admitted that he was shocked that Wesley Sneijder, Eto’o and Milito failed to rank in the top three of the 2010 Ballon d’Or.
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“It’s strange that Samuel, during all his career, never managed to win the Ballon d’Or,” he told The Athletic.
“Wes was amazing that season. In the same year he wins the treble, he plays the World Cup final.
“We got to the gala in 2010. The boys were not even on the top-three list. The only thing they managed to do was to be in the top XI, a player per position.”
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/PATopics: Inter Milan, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Italy, Serie A, Bundesliga, Germany, Football
