The U-20 World Cup has highlighted one impressive player who isn’t from Argentina, even though he could have been. Benjamin Cremaschi, a midfielder born in Miami to Argentine parents and a former teammate of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, chose to play for the United States. He is now making a name for himself in the tournament in Chile.
Cremaschi had an outstanding debut at the U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals and providing two assists in the United States’ 9-1 victory against New Caledonia. He scored just after the first minute and quickly added another goal, netting two in under five minutes.
The scoring continued, and before halftime, Cremaschi completed his hat trick and assisted on two more goals, being involved in five of the U.S. team’s nine goals and quickly becoming a top player in the tournament.
However, his current success comes after a challenging period. Cremaschi’s exit from Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is still fresh, resulting from tensions with coach Javier Mascherano and differing views on playing time.
“At the time, you don’t know where you’ll play. I go to matches and have no idea what position I’ll be in. This year, I covered several positions, but preparing for the one I’ll play is impossible. It’s mentally exhausting at times,” Cremaschi mentioned during the MLS regular season.
His departure seemed inevitable after those remarks. Nonetheless, having made 30 appearances, Cremaschi has moved to Europe and now plays for Parma in Italy, on loan with an option to buy.
Cremaschi’s brief stint with Argentina
Cremaschi’s journey also involves his dual nationality. Born in Miami in 2005, he grew up surrounded by U.S. culture as well as Argentina’s rich soccer history. His father, Pablo, played rugby, and his mother, Jimena Lara, has strong Argentine connections. This blend of backgrounds influenced his soccer identity, leading him to choose to represent the United States.
Cremaschi briefly participated in Argentina’s U-20 program. In 2022, he was selected for the preliminary squad for the South American U-20 Championship by Javier Mascherano but did not make the final team, which influenced his decision to commit to the U.S. national team.