One lucky North Texas kid got to walk out of the tunnel with Lionel Messi ahead of Argentina's World Cup match in North Texas, and he didn't even know he would be near Messi until right before they entered the field.

North Texas kids stand alongside Messi What they're saying: "This is so cool!" Nine-year-old Santi Cruz Melo was among the children from North Texas selected to accompany Argentina onto the field for their match against Austria on Monday.

The player escorts were up at 4 a.m. for dress rehearsals this morning, but did not know who they would walk alongside until they lined up next to players in the tunnel.