From having first played organized soccer at the age of six to landing an assist to Lionel Messi only 12 years later, 18-year-old Club International de Futbol Miami Benjamin Cremaschi has accomplished more than most players dream of, and in a short time. 

At 14, Cremaschi moved from Key Biscayne to play for Weston Academy, where he first started collecting trophies on his shelf of accomplishments by winning the 2021 U16 Major League Soccer Next Cup. After his successful MLS Next Cup campaign, Cremaschi made the move to play with the Inter Miami academy team in 2021. The following year, he helped the Inter Miami U-17s win the Generation Adidas Cup, also earning a MLS Next All-Star Selection. He then went on to Inter Miami II in 2022, scoring five goals and assisting one in the MLS Next Pro league season. 

“In U-17 he was… a strong midfielder, strong number 10 and number eight, and he filled in that role over time. In the beginning, it was hard for him to adjust, but then over time, he got a lot better and then he helped the team a lot,” former Inter Miami teammate of Cremaschi and current U-19 academy player Milo Parquet said.

The news of Cremaschi’s contract to play for three years with the Inter Miami Senior team broke on Nov. 22, 2022, later making his professional debut with Inter Miami as a late substitute on Feb. 25. Recently, on Aug. 19, Cremaschi helped Inter Miami win their first ever trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, where he had two assists and a goal in the competition, including a match-winning penalty kick to beat Football Club Dallas, also scoring a goal against them. 

On Aug. 30, Cremaschi got the call-up to the United States Men’s National Team, the same team that represented the U.S. during the 2022 World Cup. On Sep.13, he made his debut for the USMNT, coming on as a substitute in the 71 minute of a friendly match against Oman.

“His intensity was crazy, he brought a really high intensity for me and the rest of the players on that U-17 team. We had [already had] a very high intensity, so he just helped us and everyone keep that high level through all the practices and games,” Parquet said. 

To add to the dream, on June 7, considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Lionel Messi announced his intention to sign for Inter Miami. A former teammate of Messi’s, Sergio Busquets, also signed for Inter Miami on July 16. The signings would continue with another one of Messi’s former teammates, Jordi Alba, signing for the club just four days later. For Cremaschi, the opportunity to play with these legendary players at such a young age is not a common feat, with eight Union of European Football Association Champions League titles —  the most prestigious title in all of European football — shared between the three players.

The level of work that Cremaschi has put in to get to where he is today sends a message of how dedication and commitment can result in dreams coming true — playing professional soccer for Florida with some of the most legendary players of all time, as well as playing with the U.S. national team. 

“He reminds me of N’Golo Kanté, because he runs the whole game and you don’t see him stop running. He’ll be at the 90th minute and he’ll still do like a full-field sprint. He’ll always be out there,” Parquet said.