Messi's out, but four young Herons will represent their nations during the FIFA break | OneFootball

Of course it's disappointing that Argentine legend Lionel Messi won't play for La Albiceleste in key World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil -- count me among the fans who want Messi to lead Argentina to another World Cup title before hanging up his boots -- but the GOAT isn't Inter Miami's only international-quality player.

Four young guys -- Noah Allen (Greece under-21), Benjamin Cremaschi (USMNT under-20), Santi Morales (USMNT under-18), and Telasco Segovia (Venezuela) -- will represent their nations while Messi and the rest of the Herons won't play again until at least

Telasco Segovia, 21, midfielder, Venezuela

Venezuela called Segovia, 21, who has become a key contributor in the Herons' central midfield, is for two key World Cup-qualifying matches, at Ecuador on Friday and hosting Peru Tuesday. With six matches still to play in qualifying over three FIFA windows (including the current March break), La Vinotinto trail Bolivia by a single point for the seventh and final World Cup spot allotted to CONMEBOL. (The 10 South American nations began qualifying in 2023; each national team plays each other national team in a home-and-away format to determine which clubs will advance to the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.)

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Benjamin Cremaschi dribbles upfield during the U.S. Men's National Team against Costa Rica in January. | Roy K Miller/ISI Photos/USSF/GettyImages

Benjamin Cremaschi, 20, midfielder, U.S. U20

Cremaschi, born to Argentine parents in Miami and raised in Key Biscayne, is one of Inter Miami Academy's success stories. The rangy, active central midfielder was eligible to play for Argentina and the United States, and has participated in youth camps for both countries. All of his international appearances, though, have been for the U.S. In 2022, he made his first international for the USMNT U19s and scored twice in three appearances.

Then-USMNT coach Greg Berhalter invited Cremaschi and teammate Drake Callender to the USMNT camp in September 2023, and Cremaschi made his senior team debut Sept. 13, 2023, coming off the bench in the 71st minute in a friendly against Oman.

Cremaschi has five international goals, none for the senior team. He has 17 appearances, three for the senior team, seven for the U23s, four for the U20s and three for the U19s. He should feature in U20 friendlies against Mexico and Japan.