{"id":70639,"date":"2025-07-03T10:50:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T09:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=70639"},"modified":"2025-07-03T10:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T09:50:39","slug":"lionel-messi-plays-with-statues-at-inter-miami-zlatan-ibrahimovic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/lionel-messi-plays-with-statues-at-inter-miami-zlatan-ibrahimovic\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi ‘Plays With Statues’ at Inter Miami: Zlatan Ibrahimovic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lionel Messi’s hopes of leading Inter Miami to Club World Cup glory ended with a bruising 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. However, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes the blame shouldn’t fall on the Argentine’s shoulders. Speaking after the MLS side’s heavy loss, Ibrahimovic argued that even a player of Messi’s stature can’t be expected to thrive when surrounded by teammates lacking the sharpness and intensity needed at the highest level. <\/p>

The Swede described Messi’s teammates at Inter Miami as ‘statues’. The former PSG and Manchester United stiker opined that the lack of pace and technical quality around the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is holding him back. The fixture marked Messi’s first appearance against his former club since leaving Paris for the United States two years ago.<\/p>

It Wasn’t Leo Messi Who Lost; It Was Inter Miami: Zlatan<\/h2>

Despite flashes of quality from Messi, Inter Miami struggled to break down PSG’s compact defense. The MLS side failed to register a shot in the opening 50 minutes while PSG were 4-0 up inside the first-half. Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made six saves to keep the scoreline respectful while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma faced only three shots on target throughout the match. It laid bare the difference in quality between the two teams.<\/p>

Inter Miami’s high-profile rebuild around Messi has included the signings of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. But Ibrahimovic was unimpressed with the performance of other Inter Miami players. Messi found himself unable to lift his team against the Champions League winners, underlining the gulf between Europe’s champions and the MLS side’s current level. <\/p>

In an interview with Foot Mercato<\/a><\/em>, Zlatan Ibrahimovic didn’t hold back. The Swede suggested that even Messi can’t shine when surrounded by teammates lacking the sharpness needed to compete at the highest level. <\/p>

Also Read: La Liga 2025–26 Fixtures Revealed: What Are the El Clasico Dates?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Zlatan said,<\/p>

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“It wasn’t Leo Messi who lost; it was Inter Miami. Messi plays with statues, not teammates. He’s surrounded by players who run as if they were carrying bags of cement.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This isn’t the Messi I know. If you put him in a real team, he’d go all-out. There are no coaches, no stars, not even players who understand how to move without the ball. If he were on a real team, any great team, you’d see the real lion.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>

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🚨 Zlatan Ibrahimovic: \"Leo Messi didn’t lose, Inter Miami did! Messi is playing with statues, not teammates. He’s surrounded by players who run as if they’re carrying bags of cement!

\"If he were in a real team, in any big team, you’d see the real lion. Messi plays only because… pic.twitter.com\/jOeFCiEfJk<\/a><\/p>— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>