Following Inter Miami's 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a passionate defense of Lionel Messi. The former Barcelona striker dismissed claims that Messi's abilities are declining, instead, he placed blame squarely on Inter Miami and the quality of players surrounding the Argentinian star.

Ibrahimovic's comments, made to Foot Mercato, were blunt and to the point: "Messi's defeat? No, no, don't talk about the defeat as if it were his fault! Messi didn't lose; Inter Miami did!". He went on to describe Messi's teammates as "statues," suggesting they lack the movement, understanding, and quality to support a player of Messi's caliber.

"Have you seen this team? Messi plays among statues, not teammates! If he were in a real team, in Paris, in Manchester, or in any big team, you would have seen the real lion". Ibrahimovic continued, "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 as if they were carrying bags of cement!".

Ibrahimovic didn't just criticize the players; he also took aim at the coaching staff and the overall quality of MLS. "There are no coaches, no stars, not even players who understand how to move without the ball!". He implied that the league's structure, intensity, and footballing intelligence are not sufficient to support a player of Messi's level.

Despite the harsh words for Inter Miami, Ibrahimovic was adamant that Messi is still capable of performing at the highest level. "But be careful; if you give him a real team, he'll burn the stadium down again! Because quite simply. Messi is still Messi," Ibrahimovic stated. He believes Messi's continued passion for the game and his unique abilities are undeniable.

Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano, also defended Messi, acknowledging the difficulty of the game against PSG. He said, "I think Leo played a great game with the few opportunities we had... I think that today, at 38 years old, it's an honour to coach [Messi]. But against a PSG at this level, even for a Messi, it's complicated".

Ibrahimovic concluded that the defeat was not Messi's, but rather a loss for Inter Miami and for football itself. His comments serve as a strong defense of Messi's enduring talent and a critique of the environment in which he currently plays.