Benjamin Cremaschi’s rapid rise to soccer stardom continued Monday as the Key Biscayne teenager and Inter Miami midfielder was one of 18 players named to the roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 858 play
At 19 years old, Cremaschi is the youngest player on the team and will be age eligible for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, as well. The Olympic men’s soccer tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players.
It has been quite a month so far for Cremaschi, who scored the game-winning goal for Inter Miami in the closing minutes of the 2-1 road victory at Charlotte FC on July 3. And he could be playing in a USA uniform in a few weeks.
“Being named to the Olympic team is huge for me and my family, the fact that I can be there and represent the USA, the country I was born and raised in is huge,” Cremaschi said. “When the coach called me to break the news I was an in elevator, he asked if I was ready to play in the Olympics, and obviously, I said, `Yeah” and I thanked him for the opportunity. The first thing I did was call my family. My Dad teared up a bit.”
U.S. Olympic coach Marko Mitrovic said Cremaschi, who goes by “Benja” (pronounced Benha) had a promising future when he named him to the pre-Olympics camp in June.
“Last year Benja made big, big steps with Inter Miami and he grew through our youth system, and he got the opportunity to play for MNT [men’s senior national team],” Mitrovic said. “He had a small setback at the beginning of this year with his injury, but we are happy he’s back and we could see his impact right away on the field. Benja is important for our roster, important for our team, and he is the youngest player on our roster, so we believe he has a bright future with our MNT one day.”
Cremaschi missed the first seven games of the Inter Miami season following sports hernia surgery. Since his return he has started nine games, scored three goals and had two assists. He has become such a fan favorite that his jersey ranks No. 25 among MLS shirts sold this season.
The Argentine American appeared in all four Men’s Olympic Team matches last fall, scoring the lone USA goal in a 1-1 tie with Iraq.
This summer marks the Team USA men’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, ending its longest drought between Olympic appearances in more than 50 years.
Cremaschi and the rest of the U.S. squad will report to camp in Bordeaux on Tuesday and train there through July 20 before moving to Marseille for its opening game against host France on July 24 at 3 p.m., two days before the Opening Ceremony.
The United States will then play New Zealand on July 27 in Marseille (1 p.m. ET) and finish the group stage against Guinea on July 30 (1 p.m. ET).
Cremaschi is the son of Pablo and Jimena Cremaschi, who were born and raised in Argentina. Pablo played for the Argentine national rugby team, and Jimena was a top field hockey player. After moving to South Florida 20 years ago, they remained obsessed with Argentine sports, and passed that passion on to their four children.
Benja and his two brothers grew up playing soccer and rugby, as their father started a youth rugby club in Key Biscayne. But he loved soccer a little more. He started at Key Biscayne Soccer Club and then played for Weston FC before joining the Inter Miami youth academy.
Cremaschi attended MAST Academy through his sophomore year before doing online high school. He had college offers from Clemson, UNC, Penn State, and Colorado, among others, but chose the professional route.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have this group of great players and great people represent us at the Olympic Games,” said Mitrovic. “It’s a special moment for all of us as they have worked their entire lives to reach this stage. Almost every player developed through our American soccer pathway, rising to become professionals and now they will live their dreams of competing at the Olympics. We’re grateful to the clubs that released their players in support of our mission. Our goal is to make our country proud and we will give everything for the United States.”
USA OLYMPICS ROSTER
Goalkeepers (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; St. Charles, Mo.), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.)
Defenders (6): Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; Oldsmar, Fla.), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; Arlington, Mass.), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Midfielders (5): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; Greensboro, N.C.), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; Key Biscayne, Fla.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Queens, N.Y.), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; Jacksonville, Fla.), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; Birmingham, Ala.)
Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; Medford, NJ), Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht/NED; Eden, Utah), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; Omaha, Neb.), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo/BEL; Clifton, Va.)
Alternates (4): Josh Atencio (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC; Bellevue, Wash.), Jacob Davis (Defender, Sporting Kansas City; Rochester, Mich.), Johan Gomez (Forward, Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; Keller, Texas), John Pulskamp (Goalkeeper, Sporting Kansas City; Bakersfield, Calif.)
This story was originally published July 8858 play, 2024, 9:56 AM.