In the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were completely outplayed, losing 4-0 to a dominant Paris Saint-Germain side.
While fans were eager to witness Messi reunite with his former club on the global stage, the clash turned into a one-sided affair as PSG dominated from start to finish.
Despite the scoreline, Messi still looked sharp delivering clever passes, controlling the tempo, and attempting to build attacks. But football is a team game, and Inter Miami simply failed to match PSG’s intensity or class, both in defence and attack.
The aftermath of the loss sparked widespread reactions, but none more powerful than that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Speaking candidly in an interview, the Swedish legend didn’t blame Messi for the humiliating result. Instead, he criticized the entire Inter Miami team for their poor performance.
🚨🗣 Zlatan Ibrahimović defends Lionel Messi after Inter Miami's loss vs. PSG at the Club World Cup:
— FÚTBOL HUB (@futbolhub7) June 30, 2025
"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 among statues, not… pic.twitter.com/2iqnfEuYoy
“Messi didn’t lose. Inter Miami did,” Zlatan said. “He’s playing with statues, not teammates.” According to him, the players around Messi lacked movement, awareness, and quality needed to compete at the top level. He even joked that some looked like they were “carrying bags of cement.”
Zlatan’s frustration didn’t stop there. He criticized the overall standard of Major League Soccer (MLS), saying it lacked tactical discipline and footballing intelligence. “You want to blame Messi? Put him in a real team Manchester, PSG, any top side and you’ll see the real lion again,” he added.
For Messi, the result was disappointing, but his desire and flair were still on display. At 37, he continues to do things most players can’t, but the support around him isn’t strong enough to convert moments into results.
As for Inter Miami, this defeat was a reality check. Competing on the global stage demands more than just star power it requires a strong, balanced squad that can fight toe-to-toe with the world’s best. Messi might keep delivering brilliant performances on his own, but without a strong team around him, big wins will stay out of reach.