Scouting Benjamin Cremaschi: Inter Miami and USMNT’s rising midfield star learning from Lionel Messi

"I've said it before, I think if I lived in Argentina, if I was born in Argentina, I think I would've played rugby, not soccer," Cremaschi told MLS and Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman in 2024. "I did play rugby here when I was little, but it got to a point where I had to choose, and I thought I had more of a future in soccer, in this sport, and that's the route that I went."

Well, safe to say he made the right call.

Cremaschi, born in Miami to Argentine parents, grew up with Spanish as his first language. His family held strong connections to Argentina, even though they lived in South Florida. As a kid, he played for Key Biscayne Soccer Club and Weston FC, and even won the 2021 U16 MLS NEXT Cup with Weston. However, that's also the tournament where things changed for him - the competition where he realized there might be something real here with a potential career in the game.

In 2021, he signed with Inter Miami as an academy player, where he quickly shot up the ranks of the program. At the U17 level, he helped the Herons reach the semifinals of the Generation Adidas Cup and also earned an MLS NEXT All-Star selection the same year. In that gane, he went on to score an equalizing goal for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, spearheading them to victory in the match.

In the same season, he also made his professional debut for Inter Miami II in MLS NEXT Pro and became a regular with the team, scoring five goals and recording an assist in 13 appearances.

Come December 2022, he became the fifth Homegrown signing in Inter Miami history, signing a first-team deal with the club, and from there? It's all become history.

Cremaschi made his senior debut for Miami in February 2023 and became a mainstay in the lineup after a few months of integrating himself into the XI. Then, in July 2023, it was announced that Messi was signing for the club - and that changed everything.

Immediately after joining the club, the Argentine spearheaded Miami to a Leagues Cup title, claiming the first piece of silverware in club history for the Herons. That competition also served as Cremaschi's big breakout moment, and having it come alongside Messi? That's the stuff of dreams.

He featured in all seven games, starting six, including a run that saw him score the go-ahead strike against FC Dallas in the Round of 16 before bagging the game-winning penalty kick in an ensuing shootout later that evening. It was an electric moment; it was a match where he announced himself to all of MLS as the next star in the making.

“This is the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” said Cremaschi in August 2023 after their Leagues Cup triumph. “Having Tata [Martino] and those three players [Messi, Busquets, Jordi Alba], people with a lot of experience who have been at elite levels. To absorb everything from them is great, not just for me but for every young player at the club.”

Across all competitions, he played in 41 matches in his rookie season, scoring two goals. He even earned his first international call-up in September of that year, just days after lifting the Leagues Cup with the South Beach club. He went on to be nominated for U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year, as well.

Six months changed his life and the trajectory of his career, and now, he's rising further and further up the ranks.

It's a trait that often gets overlooked, but stamina, stamina, stamina.

Cremaschi is a legitimate workhorse on the pitch. Constantly running, making tackles, pushing harder and harder both on and off the ball, the 20-year-old is the ideal midfielder for any manager with a system focused on pressing and a quick transition-based game.

On the ball, he possesses tidy footwork and absolutely lovely right foot that has a drill of a shot, but where he really shines is off it.

He's grown immensely over the past two years and has demonstrated an understanding of finding space and position off the ball, while learning how and when to make runs, which has become crucial to his role under Javier Mascherano this season. He has shown a willingness to adapt and learn different spaces on the pitch, while creating chances and opportunities for those around him as well.

Cremaschi still has yet to figure out what his best position is. Since signing for Miami, he's largely been used as an attacking midfielder, and it's widely expected that's where his career goes. However, his development with the Herons has stagnated a bit this season because they are not playing with a traditional No. 10 most times, and Cremaschi has been used off the bench just in an attacking role more often than not as a result.

Against Porto at the CWC, though, something different was tried by Mascherano, and it worked - extremely well.

Cremaschi was deployed as a No. 8 in the midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and put on a masterclass performance in the center of the park. He was everywhere, all over the pitch, and locked down the midfield alongside the Spanish legend.

So now, the question begs: where does Cremaschi fit in the grand scheme of things with Miami? What about the USMNT?
The 20-year-old needs to figure out what his best position is, and once he does, he needs to push for regular starting minutes with it. For Inter Miami this season, he's started 10 matches, making 13 appearances in MLS action, with one goal and three assists. He's on track to better his 2024 account in the league, so that's a start, but he needs to define his position on the pitch so that his upward trajectory remains on course.

Cremaschi is likely not going to be the next De Paul, because they play different positions. However, the similarities to their game are rather uncanny, and the Inter Miami starlet himself has likened himself to the Atletico Madrid and Argentina star.

De Paul, known for a certain tenacity on the ball, is a delightful box-to-box midfielder who displays immaculate ball control while actively being known as one of the most aggressive players in the world on and off the ball.

“He’s a player who I really admire because of the way he plays,” Cremaschi told ESPN Argentina back in 2023.

Where Cremaschi is similar is with his selflessness on the pitch. Constantly looking to support his teammates, make contributing runs, or find passes for runners, he is constantly aware of his surroundings while looking to build as a unit rather than individually. Cremaschi boasts incredible stamina, and often finds himself making deeper lying runs because he has the ability to - which, in essence, could also see him play a box-to-box role like De Paul.

The young American isn't anywhere close to the Argentine's level, but the smallest of comparisons are there, and if he can even come close to reaching that level... that is a win.

Cremaschi and the Herons take the pitch on Sunday against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16. A former club of his teammate Messi's, Cremaschi, and the South Beach franchise know they're up against the world heading into the clash, but that doesn't bother them. They're ready for it.

“We know they’re the best team in Europe - and we know that for a fact,” Cremaschi told the Overlap US Podcast. “We’re ready to compete the way we’ve been competing. I don’t think we need to shy down from anything. I feel like we’ve been competing at a good level, and we saw Botafogo do it, so why can’t we?

He added, “And Botafogo is a team which competes a lot, which runs a lot, defends very well. I think if we kind of just mimic that and compete the way we’re competing and play the way we’re playing, and you never know, something could happen. We could do something. And we have nothing to lose, so we’re going to go full and see what happens.”

As for his future internationally, Cremaschi looks to have a bright future with the program, but it's looking to be one long-term, moreso than short-term. The 20-year-old noted he hasn't spoken with Mauricio Pochettino since the January USMNT camp, when he was last called upHowever, the Inter Miami star is looking forward to representing the Americans this fall at the U20 FIFA World Cup, where he is expected to play a pivotal role.

“No, I haven’t spoken to him since January camp,” Cremaschi said of Pochettino. “Honestly, I’m pretty focused on the U20s right now. And we have World Cup coming up soon, and I feel like I’m an important player there. So I really want to focus on the U20s for now and then see where the next step is with the senior team. But obviously, I follow them, I see their results. So I’m happy for them and hopefully they can take it all the way.”

At the club level, it remains to be seen what the future holds for him. Linked with a move abroad, Serie A side Juventus are reportedly monitoring him, as are Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.

“It’s a good question,” Cremaschi told the Athletic in July 2024, when asked about potentially playing abroad. “For now, I’m focused on my day-to-day and I’m really involved with the club. If an opportunity arises to go to Europe, I’ll obviously consider it. I’ll think about it, but for now I’m enjoying playing with our No. 10 [Messi].”

For now, Cremaschi will continue to ply his trade at South Beach alongside the Argentine superstar, but when the opportunity comes, the world will know it -- he is a star in the making.