He drove Belgium forward to gain a draw at Hampden Park and came on to score the penalty that took the team through to Japan against the Czech Republic.
Without Wilmots, the team looked lacklustre against Greece in Patras, where they conceded late goals to lose 3-2.
Robert Waseige could accommodate Wilmots by playing him in attack alongside Wesley Sonck or Emile Mpenza, but that would reduce the attacking options.
Otherwise he could revert to 3-5-2 and play Wilmots just behind two strikers.
With Waseige's love of stability, the latter choice is unlikely. There is no easy solution.
If Walter Baseggio had 'trained on' from his halcyon days of 2000-2001, then the Belgium coach might be sleeping easier in his bed.
Instead, with Baseggio watching last Wednesday's game from the press box and looking increasingly unlikely to make the squad, Waseige has to solve his midfield - and possibly captaincy - dilemmas fast.