Former Mexico captain Rafa Marquez believes MLS has become a more attractive option for Mexican players returning from Europe than Liga MX, and believes the young league will overtake its southern rival on the field in the not-so-distant future.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who joined the LA Galaxy in January, was the latest in an increasing number of big-name Mexican stars choosing MLS over Liga MX, and there has been a significant increase in transfers from Liga MX to MLS this winter -- a trend Marquez has deemed concerning for the league.

"I think that MLS is more attractive than coming to Mexico and that we should be a little worried about that," Marquez told Fox Sports. "We should try to enamor our players more so that they can come back and that would help the quality of football get better."

The 41-year-old former Barcelona defender added: "We should be working to improve and try to bring back these important players for our country."

Marquez had previously been critical of MLS after his time with the New York Red Bulls, but he was singing a different tune on Monday. When asked whether MLS teams can now compete on even keel with Liga MX clubs, and if they will soon surpass their Mexican counterparts, Marquez cited LAFC's 3-0 victory over Club Leon last Thursday in CONCACAF Champions League play as evidence that the gap in quality is shrinking.

"I think so," Marquez said. "We saw what happened to Leon, who was beaten by Carlos Vela's [LAFC] and is on an upwards path, and it won't be long before they overtake us."

Marquez has previously stated that he regretted the move to MLS and that the drop in standard from Barcelona made it difficult.

Stars like Chicharito are choosing MLS over Liga MX, says Rafa Marquez. Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The debate over whether MLS is catching Liga MX has been raging in Mexico after LAFC's defeat of Leon, but LA Galaxy GM Dennis te Kloese, who previously worked for the Mexican federation, believes squads in the Mexican league still retain greater strength in depth.

"I probably think that the depth in the Mexican squads are a little bit more quality than the depth in the MLS teams, but it has to do with the growth and where the league is going," Te Kloese told ESPN in Houston. "I do think that you saw it last year when we played Cruz Azul and Tijuana [in Leagues Cup] and I think the rivalry is very healthy and very good and both leagues have a lot of things they can take advantage of."

Houston Dynamo head coach and former Tigres player Tab Ramos agrees with Marquez that the MLS teams are getting closer to the Mexican ones.

"No question it's getting closer," Ramos told reporters on Friday. "I do believe that overall Liga MX has the tradition and has been around for longer, has attracted bigger players for longer in the prime of their career, but I do think that the gap is getting closer and closer.

"I think the fact that with Javier Hernandez and Vela and [Alan] Pulido and [Rodolfo] Pizarro now, big Mexican players are starting to select MLS as a place to play," continued Ramos. "It's a big indication that the league is trending high and I'm very happy with that."

The CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals features three MLS versus Liga MX match-ups, with Atlanta United taking on Club America, Cruz Azul facing LAFC and Tigres playing NYCFC.