Lionel Messi: MLS poised for step to catch European leagues - ESPN

MLS might not be on the level of Europe's top leagues, but global superstar Lionel Messi said he thinks it isn't far behind.

In his first sit-down with media on Thursday since joining Inter Miami CF in July as a free agent, the World Cup winner with Argentina said MLS is poised to take the next step and reach the level of competition on the other side of the Atlantic.

«I think it has every opportunity to do so,» Messi told ESPN's Luis Miguel Echegaray. «That growth depends a lot on the league. It's an ideal moment to grow. There are important competitions upcoming that will be played in this country (2024 Copa America, 2026 FIFA World Cup).

»It's time for the league to make that leap and finish growing, finish looking for what it's been seeking for a while. Everything is in place here to witness top-level football because of the country, the structure, a bunch of things."

The former Barcelona star has been running rampant through MLS and Liga MX opponents since leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season en route to Saturday's Leagues Cup final — scoring nine times in six games, all wins — and the growth and quality of the sport in the U.S. hasn't slipped his attention.

«I think that soccer in the U.S. has grown a lot in this last year,» Messi said. «It has shown that in the results the USMNT have had lately. It was a great squad in the World Cup, too. Very competitive. It held its own against every team it had on its slate. It's getting closer and closer to the level of Mexican soccer.

»This Leagues Cup demonstrated that. There is no Mexican team in the final. While you can question a lot of things, the reality is all the matches were very close, very competitive. Anybody can beat anyone else. I get the sense