Playing with Lionel Messi is 'indescribable'! Inter Miami youngster Benjamin Cremaschi opens on representing hometown club alongside Argentine legend

In an interview with CBS Soccer as a part of their on-site UEFA Champions League LIVE show in Miami on Tuesday, the Herons youngster was asked about his rise over the past year. From signing his first professional contract to debuting with the USMNT - and of course, playing alongside his childhood idol, Lionel Messi.

"Obviously it's amazing being able to play in front of my family and friends," he said. "I grew up in Miami so it's an amazing feeling and now I share a locker room with Messi so it's honestly been a ridiculous year.

"I grew up watching him play, watching a lot of Argentina players play, and now I can share the field and the day-to-day life with such a player it's something I can't describe.

"When I knew he was coming to the club I wasn't really nervous but the first time I saw him in the locker room, which is where I met him I was really nervous, obviously shaking his hand. That was a really nerve-wracking moment.

"It was a crazy, surreal moment for sure. I don't have his number in my contacts but he's in a group chat so if I ever need to reach out to him."

Cremaschi burst onto the scene in 2023, playing a crucial role in the Herons' Leagues Cup campaign alongside Messi. His performances have even caught the eye of USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter and the USSF, who called him up for their September camp. The 18-year-old took advantage of his moment, assisting Kevin Paredes in a friendly against Oman.

The 18-year-old could be one of many young MLS stars to find themselves in Berhalter's January camp. With the window not being recognized by FIFA, it typically boasts MLS talent and players who find themselves on the outskirts of selection with their foreign clubs. Regardless, the Herons are in offseason mode, so Cremaschi is enjoying his time away from the competitive side of the game at the moment.