In the midst of a transcendent run in the United States, Lionel Messi said Thursday his brief MLS tenure has already given him confidence in the league’s ability to rival European leagues in the years to come.
Messi, who guided Argentina to a World Cup in December, shared his optimism for the future of MLS during his first media sessions since joining Inter Miami CF as a free agent in July.
In his estimation, the 36-year-old soccer legend said MLS, with the 2024 Copa America and ’26 FIFA World Cup approaching, now finds itself in prime position to “make that leap and finish growing.”
“I think it has every opportunity to do so,” Messi told ESPN. “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.
“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.”
In regards to the level of competition, Messi cited Miami’s upcoming Leagues Cup final against fellow MLS club Nashville SC on Saturday as an example of the shrinking gap in skill level between players in the United States and abroad.
With two MLS clubs competing for the championship, Messi noted that the Leagues Cup, which pits MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX clubs against one another, combined with the USMNT’s success served as a sign of things to come.
“I think that soccer in the U.S. has grown a lot in this last year,” he 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 that the same happens in [MLS]. It’s a competitive one where anybody can win. One where the home team is strong, and it’s difficult to win away. I’ll still be getting to know a little bit of that after my first match.”
While some may dispute Messi’s take, the superstar forward has already seen firsthand how his impact alone has elevated the league’s profile. And, with his MLS debut set for Aug. 26 in New York, Messi figures to remain at the forefront as he looks to continue his hot start.
After scoring nine goals in six games, Messi and Inter Miami, having already secured a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, will look to secure the club’s first trophy with a win against Nashville.
