Video: Lionel Messi leaves Houston Dynamo academy players in awe

Argentina are currently training in Houston ahead of a friendly against Bolivia

The Major League Soccer is growing both in popularity and in infrastructure. While it is invigorating for young players in the academies of these MLS clubs to get to train with the likes of Robby Keane, David Villa and Frank Lampard among others, it is downright mind-boggling to be given the opportunity to have a kick-about with arguably the greatest footballer on the planet, Lionel Messi.

As the Argentine national team prepared itself in Houston Dyanamo’s training facilities ahead of their friendly against fellow South Americans Bolivia on Saturday, a group of Dynamo’s U-18 players were granted a training session with Messi and company.

In a video released by the club, the Barcelona superstar, walking off the pitch after the completion of the training session, stopped by and gave four young Dynamo footballers high fives and hugs, leaving the teenagers awestruck.

“Did you get that on camera?” quipped one of the four, grinning from ear to ear.

As much fun and admiring it was to see a player of Messi’s stature to stop by after a gruelling session of football and greeting a bunch of kids, we kind of feel for the poor cameraman who hid behind the lenses.

You can tell by their reaction that even shaking hands with the magician was probably the highlight of their day, possibly even their month. But then again, it’s hard not to be awestruck by the Barcelona man’s presence.

Messi and co will be keen to shake off the disappointment of a near miss from the Copa America final against Chile. It’s only a brief international break that will be followed by the resumption of league football as Barcelona go into a tough clash traveling away to face Atletico Madrid. Both teams have won their opening two games, while Real Madrid who dropped points on the opening day will be hoping for a draw between the two.