The Houston Dynamo's Franco Escobar and Ezequiel Ponce grew up in the same town as Lionel Messi and now will face their idol for the first time Sunday.

Escobar may even lift his shorts above his right thigh to show his personal tribute — a massive tattoo of Messi kissing the World Cup trophy. “It's going to be something very beautiful for me ...

Houston Dynamo players Franco Escobar and Ezequiel Ponce are both from Argentina and idolize Lionel Messi. Now, they get to play against him.