Diego Milito's unique achievement of scoring the goals which sealed each leg of Inter’s historic Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble has transformed him into Europe’s must-have striker yet, extraordinarily, he may be just an afterthought for Argentina in the World Cup.

On Monday night, Argentina meet Canada in Buenos Aires in their last pre-World Cup friendly. It is fancied coach Diego Maradona could try out a dazzling strike trident of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Carlos Tévez, with his son-in-law, Atlético Madrid’s exciting Sergio Agüero, ready to explode from the bench.

So by the time Inter’s instant legend joins up with them, unless Maradona has been carried away by the news of the landmark goals, all exquisitely executed, which the 30 year-old has scored in Rome, Siena and Madrid these past few weeks, Milito could still find himself only the fifth-choice striker, maybe even sixth given El Diego’s mystical fondness for the venerable Martin Palermo.

Still, what Milito has achieved in Milan since José Mourinho signed him this season must surely have forced even the eccentric Maradona to acknowledge the astounding late blooming of a man who once knew cricketer Mark Waugh’s feeling of not even being the best player in his own house.

With his leadership qualities and earlier introduction to the national team it was Gabriel, who as Barcelona centre-back has now seen the Champions’ Cup usurped by his big brother, who was considered the most likely Milito lad.

For years, though, Diego went on to be a success at Racing, Zaragoza and Genoa even if a quiet, modest demeanour to the point of shyness meant his achievements never made the noise they merited.

Mourinho’s skill was to recognise him as the perfect unsung, workaholic fit for his all-for-one, one-for-all Inter alongside Samuel Eto’o and in place of the maverick Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In a player-plus-cash deal estimated at £22 million, the price may have raised eyebrows but now looks a steal with 30 Milito goals in 52 games.

Big goals too. Milan derbies, cup finals, Champions League KO ties. An overnight sensation at 30, then? “It’s a real joy to know Real want me,” said Milito, after seeing his name linked with Mourinho’s move to Madrid on Sunday.

Maybe Maradona will fancy him too now; Milito’s 31st birthday is the day Argentina open their campaign against Nigeria at Ellis Park. An omen only a barking one could ignore?