Benjamin Cremaschi: Inter Miami wonderkid set for a tug-of-war between the USMNT & Lionel Messi's Argentina

Born in Miami, Cremaschi is Inter Miami's first true homegrown star. He began playing soccer at the age of six and, at 14, moved to the Weston Academy, a program that also produced former USMNT and current Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. While there, Cremaschi helped Weston win the 2021 Under-16 MLS Next Cup, claiming the Golden Boot in the process.

In 2021, he signed with Miami, joining the club's youth program, but it didn't take him long to rise up the ranks. He debuted for Inter Miami II in the MLS Next Pro League in 2022, scoring five goals before signing his first professional contract in November.

Under now-former head coach Phil Neville, Cremaschi was handed his Inter Miami debut in February and, after a series of cameo appearances, earned his first start in April. In the months since, he hasn't looked back, becoming a regular at just 18 years old.

Like just about everyone else at Inter Miami, Cremaschi's life changed completely this summer. It's what happens when the GOAT arrives.

An Argentinian himself, and thus a long-time Messi fan, Cremaschi was certainly star-struck when the man himself became his new team-mate ahead of the Leagues Cup this summer. However, since Messi's arrival, Cremaschi has proven more than capable of playing alongside the ex-Barcelona man, and has emerged as an even more vital player for Inter Miami under Gerardo 'Tata' Matino.

With Messi's long-time team-mate Busquets, playing as the No.6, Cremaschi's energy has been vital for Miami, with the youngster asked to do a lot of running to make up for Busquets and Messi's aging legs.

It's not just energy that Cremaschi brings, though, as the teenage midfielder has also played a part in plenty of goals. His ability to get into the final third, and contribute once there, has been key for a Miami team that has seen contributions come from all over the field since Messi has arrived.

Cremaschi scored a vital goal in the Leagues Cup, helping lead Miami's comeback against FC Dallas that was ultimately capped off by a Messi free-kick. It was the ex-Barcelona man that stole the show, but Miami wouldn't have made it that far if not for the work done by Cremaschi earlier in the half.

Additionally, Cremaschi has shown a cool head in big moments, scoring the decisive penalty against FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semi-finals after proving to be such a key figure in the team's Leagues Cup run.

The teenager has also provided four assists since Messi's arrival, with none more dazzling than his combination with his long-time idol in the recent win over the New York Red Bulls. Surrounded in the box by opposing defenders, Messi picked out the type of pass that only he can see, finding Cremaschi on the right side. Likely stunned to have even received the ball, Cremaschi made no mistake once he did get it, teeing up a wide-open Messi to cap an absurd sequence.

Plenty of players have benefitted from Messi's arrival. Robert Taylor has become a goal machine, while Leonardo Campana and Josef Martinez have both found their scoring boots. But it could be argued that Cremaschi is benefitting the most from being taken under Messi's wing so far in Miami and, even in Messi's shadow, the spotlight on the teenager has grown brighter and brighter.

None of this is being lost on Cremaschi, who understands exactly how absurd his life has become this summer.

His father was a professional rugby player, representing Argentina at international level. And, like all Argentinians his age, Cremaschi was raised on Messi highlights and a seemingly endless supply of Messi goals. Now, instead of watching those goals on YouTube, he's helping to create them. Cremaschi, even after 11 games, is still stunned by it all.

“Messi tries to help us young guys, to understand what they need," he recently told CBS Sports. "We just try to absorb everything that he says because obviously he is the best player in the world. We are living the dream here, I’m enjoying it. I know when I go out there I have to kill it, but I’m living a huge dream.

"Sometimes I sit down and think about the position that I'm in, and it's incredible. I never believed I would be in the spot like I am today, and I just know I have to keep working and work for more."

Despite his tender years, Cremaschi currently finds himself in the middle of a tug-of-war, with Messi on one side and the USMNT on the other.

So far during his young career, Cremaschi has had opportunities with both Argentina and the U.S., featuring for both countries' youth teams. In 2022, the midfielder was part of the U.S. U20 squad that trained alongside the pre-World Cup team in October before heading to Qatar and, shortly after, he was called in to Argentina's U20s for November camp as the only non-domestic-based player to earn a call-up.

With his breakout over the last few months, the competition for Cremaschi's international allegiance has only gotten hotter. Rumors began swirling during the summer that he could earn himself a USMNT call-up, while the midfielder has said that Messi has spoken to him about the possibility of representing Argentina in the future.

“Not easy, but not thinking about it right now," he told Univision Deportes in August. "I’ve been in contact with both federations and I know it’s a decision I eventually have to make, but there’s time. I’ve spoken about it with Messi, he has asked me and I love Argentina."

However, it's the USMNT that have given him the opportunity in the September window as Cremaschi, alongside Inter Miami team-mate Drake Callendar, has been called-up by Gregg Berhalter.

It may feel like Cremaschi has been fast-tracked to the USMNT based on his performances since Messi arrived. And, to be fair, it's at least partially true, as his elevated play under this increased spotlight no doubt caught the attention of the returning U.S. coach.

It's also fair to say that this feels like a proactive move to recruit yet another dual-national. Over the past few years, the U.S. has won recruiting battles to secure the services of Folarin Balogun, Sergino Dest and Yunus Musah, to name a few. The program has done a great job of recruiting, getting future stars in early in their career and letting them build their way into the USMNT's culture.

However, Berhalter says that him being impressed with the teenager isn't anything new and that the decision to call the midfielder in wasn't a rushed one out of dual-national panic. In fact, he's been a fan of the midfielder's since that camp last fall.

"He immediately caught my eye for his just tenacity, and his relentlessness,” Berhalter said of that first impression back in October with the U20s. “He's a kid that, he was playing out of position that camp, played wing or sometimes forward, but he never quit. He never gave up, he kept running. I mean, he was running himself silly and it really showed me what his mindset was like and I was really impressed with that.

“Now, watching his progress with Inter Miami, he's done a great job. And it's not only post-Messi. I think even pre-Messi, you see that he had some ability. Just a really dynamic player and a guy who gives everything on the pitch. So I'm really excited, the staff is really excited to be working with him, bring him in the camp and see what he can do with our team. And we have high expectations for him at such a young age.”

B.J. Callaghan, Berhalter's assistant and the USMNT's interim coach during this past summer's Nations League and Gold Cup, has also been left impressed by Cremaschi as he prepares for his first taste of USMNT action.

"He's a player that we've tracked for a while," Callaghan said. "With his recent form, he's really made a step forward. We're excited to welcome him into camp. Specifically, I think we do see him as a center-midfield type of profile. He is a player that I think can make a make an impact in the attacking third of the field, but also has an edge to him that you like, that you think can help him compete in the middle of the field against some of the best in international football."

Still, one has to wonder: is this too much, too soon for the 18-year-old starlet? He has certainly leapfrogged several other young candidates, as U20 stars like Jack McGlynn or Noel Buck haven't yet received a USMNT chance. Buck, meanwhile, is now at the center of his own dual-national situation after accepting a call-up from England's U19s. However, neither McGlynn nor Buck are playing with Messi for their clubs, and Cremaschi has certainly taken full advantage of the increased focus on his game.

The question is, though, if he's ready for the international level. Still just 18 with less than a full season of MLS experience, the leap to the international game will be massive for Cremaschi. He's nowhere near ready for Argentina's senior team, as he can't be expected to break into a squad filled with World Cup winners just yet

But is he ready for the USMNT? It'll be tough. However, there's nothing wrong with the staff getting a closer look at a potential future star. He's far from the first young starlet to be given a taste of the game earlier in their career, and most come out better for having learned just what the level is and needs to be.

So what's next for Cremaschi? In the short-term, a chance to make an early statement to the U.S., and Argentina, on the international stage. In the long-term, big things, as he continues to develop with Messi by his side in Miami.

This is just the start for Cremaschi, all of it. His development, his student-teacher relationship with Messi, his career, this recruiting battle... all of it. It's all gone rather quickly for the 18-year-old, but so far he's looked capable and ready for the challenge.

The ball is now in Cremaschi's court as the world starts to take notice.