Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami’s journey in the Club World Cup came to an end on June 29.
Following one win and two draws in the group stage, Inter Miami qualified for the Round of 16, where they were pitted against one of Messi’s former clubs, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Herons were on the receiving end of a crushing 4-0 defeat against PSG at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Messi, who was on the pitch for the entirety of the match, had two shots on target and was involved in two key passes.
However, the Argentine icon’s efforts on the pitch against PSG barely matched those of his Inter Miami teammates, making it easier for the French club to bag the win.
Messi and Inter Miami’s elimination from the competition also brought in quite some criticism for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
And now, Zlatan Ibrahimovic dismissed any claims of fault from Messi’s side in the loss against PSG and blamed the 38-year-old’s teammates for it.
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What did Zlatan Ibrahimovic say about Leo Messi and Inter Miami’s loss against PSG?
While speaking in an interview with Foot Mercato, Ibrahimovic candidly stated that the rest of the Inter Miami squad, excluding Messi, was responsible for the defeat against PSG, and said,
“Messi’s defeat? No, no, don’t talk about the defeat as if it were his fault! Messi didn’t lose, Inter Miami did! Have you seen the team? Messi plays with statues, not teammates! If he was in a real team, in Paris, Manchester, in any of the big teams, you’d have seen the real lion.”
“Messi only plays because he loves the game, because he can still do what 99% of players can’t! But he’s surrounded by those who run around like they’re carrying bags of cement!” added the former Swedish star.
Zlatan also slammed the criticism and doubts over Messi, claiming that the Barcelona legend has still got his stride but needs a better team to exhibit it.
“There are no coaches, no stars, not even players who understand how to move without the ball! You want to blame Messi? When he plays with Ronaldo, with Mbappé, with Haaland, with Zlatan. Then you can talk! But today? No, no, no, no, no,” he said.
“But be careful, if you give him a real team, he’ll burn down the stadium again! Because, quite simply. Messi is still Messi, but today? It’s not his defeat, it’s the defeat of Inter Miami and of football,” concluded Zlatan.
Messi and Zlatan shared the pitch alongside each other in 42 matches for a season in Barcelona while registering a total of 10 joint goal participations.
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