When Benjamin Cremaschi left Inter Miami, few anticipated that inside months he would discover himself talked about alongside soccer royalty equivalent to Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. The 20-year-old midfielder, now on mortgage at Parma, has loved a breakout worldwide event — and after the ultimate whistle of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, he added his title to an unique listing shared by a number of the recreation’s largest icons.
After struggling for enjoying time in Miami’s star-studded lineup — one which featured Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and extra lately, Rodrigo De Paul — Cremaschi sought a recent begin in Europe. His mortgage transfer to Parma was seen as a danger, but it surely was through the U-20 World Cup in Chile that his potential actually got here alive.
America reached the quarter-finals earlier than falling to eventual champions Morocco, however Cremaschi’s particular person brilliance didn’t go unnoticed. He scored 5 objectives and registered two assists in 5 matches, main his nation’s cost with confidence and composure properly past his age. His standout performances got here within the 9-1 thrashing of New Caledonia, the place he bagged a hat-trick, and a 3-0 knockout win over Italy, the place he scored twice.
The U-20 World Cup ended with Morocco defeating Argentina 2-0 to say their first-ever title, because of a stunning show from Yassir Zabiri and Othmane Maamma, who took dwelling the Golden Ball because the event’s greatest participant. But whereas Morocco celebrated their historic win, Cremaschi quietly achieved one thing that positioned him in elite firm.
Uncommon place amongst legends
The American midfielder earned the Golden Boot — awarded to the event’s prime scorer — ending degree on 5 objectives with France’s Lucas Michal and Colombia’s Neiser Villarreal. The tie was damaged by assists, the place Cremaschi’s two proved decisive. It was solely in the course of the post-tournament celebrations that FIFA confirmed the honour — the Golden Boot, beforehand gained by none apart from Lionel Messi in 2005 and Erling Haaland in 2019.
The achievement locations Cremaschi in a outstanding lineage of winners, together with Sergio Aguero (2007), Cesare Casadei (2023), and Eddie Johnson (2003) — the one different American to say the award.
For the Florida-born playmaker, who as soon as idolized Messi from the identical coaching pitch in Miami, it’s a surreal full-circle second. “Each time I noticed the prospect, I might attempt to be taught from him [Messi],” Cremaschi mentioned after the event. “I might attempt to take in all the pieces that he does: the best way he takes care of himself, the best way he manages himself. Nice man, even higher participant, and it was a really, superb expertise enjoying with him.”
These classes clearly took root. His calmness on the ball, imaginative and prescient between the traces, and maturity in key moments mirrored the very traits he as soon as studied within the Argentine legend.
