MANILA, Philippines – A 9-year-old Filipino footballer was given a full scholarship by Spain’s FC Barcelona Escola, which has produced the likes of football stars Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandes.

Sandro Reyes is one of the two boys selected by FC Barcelona Escola out of the 400 children who tried out for the scholarship.

Reyes received an invite to try out for the Spanish football academy after he impressed the Barcelona coaching staff during a football clinic in Singapore.

After going through a final try-out last month, Reyes was selected as a recipient of a three-year football scholarship.

The Filipino youngster started playing football at the age of 5 and has already joined five football clubs in the Philippines. He was a consistent top scorer in local tournaments.

Reyes’ father, Edmund, recalled one of the coaches’ comment after fielding his son in one of the try-outs.

“Lumapit sa akin 'yung head coach, and sinabi niya, 'Sir, very, very good.' Nung sinabi n'ya 'yun medyo kinilabutan na ko, may feeling na ko na darating talaga ang tsansa na 'yun," said the elder Reyes.

Reyes dreams of playing for FC Barcelona someday just like Filipino-Spanish Paulino Alcantara, who scored 369 goals in 357 games in the 1920s. -- With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News