Lionel Messi, who has scored nine goals in six games for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup since he joined the club, said the Major League Soccer (MLS) is not far behind the top European leagues and has a good chance to catch up.

"I think it has every opportunity to do so," Messi told ESPN in an interview on Thursday. "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 Argentine superstar added.

Before Messi's arrival this summer, Inter Miami had an awkward 11-game winless streak and had not won a single title. They won all six games that Messi played and are now very close to winning their first trophy in franchise history. They will play Nashville in the Leagues Cup final at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.

"I think that soccer in the U.S. has grown a lot in this last year," Messi told ESPN. "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," he added.

By reaching the Leagues Cup final, Inter Miami have qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024. Messi will make his MLS debut for the team when they visit Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, to play the New York Red Bulls on August 26.

"It would be incredible for the fans, for the club itself," Messi said in the interview. "While it's been a great surprise that we're about to play a final for people who don't see us train every day, we have prepared for this. To compete and go for this title, because we know we're capable."

"The team has grown greatly, especially since [coach Gerardo Martino's] arrival, and we're happy to have met our first goal, which is Concacaf Champions Cup qualifying. Now, we can play a final," he added.

When Messi confirmed his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in June, many thought he would return to Barcelona, where he spent most of his career and won most of his honors as a player. However, Messi chose Inter Miami, where, according to him, he can be happy both on and off the field.

"My decision was based on a lot of things," Messi said. "We thought about it a lot and decided with my family. I came here so I could continue to enjoy soccer, it's what I've enjoyed all my life, and I chose that place for that reason more than anything."

"I can say I'm very happy, not just because of the results on the pitch but because of my family, how we go about our everyday life. We are enjoying the city and the welcome from fans, which has been extraordinary since the first day. Not just in Miami but the U.S. in general. We got to go to Dallas as a visiting team, and the treatment toward me was spectacular. So, I'm grateful for this moment," he added.