Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s campaign in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup came to an end after losing 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Round of 16 on June 29. Their performance garnered criticism from football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The first half was a nightmare for the MLS side. PSG scored within the first 10 minutes thanks to a free kick that saw the ball go to Joao Neves for the opening goal. They controlled all the momentum from that point on, scoring three more goals to take a 4-0 lead at halftime. This turned out to be biggest halftime deficit Messi faced in his legendary career.
Inter Miami played catch-up for the second half, desperately trying to get a goal back but to no avail. Despite Messi’s efforts, he couldn’t find the net as his squad’s time in the tournament ended in tough fashion.
Ibrahimovic reacted to the team’s loss after the game, via Footmercato. He did not pin the blame on Lionel Messi, choosing to criticize the supporting cast around the star forward instead.
“Messi’s defeat? No, don’t talk about the defeat as if it was his fault! Messi didn’t lose, Inter Miami did! Have you seen this team?” Ibrahimović said.
“Messi plays among statues, not teammates! If he was in a real team, in Paris, in Manchester [City], in any big team, you would 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 as if they were carrying bags of cement! There are no coaches, no stars, not even players who understand how to move without the ball.”
“You want to blame Messi? If he plays with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, with [Kylian] Mbappé, with [Erling] Haaland, with Zlatan. Then you can talk! But today? No, no, no. That’s not the Messi I know, he’s a big ghost who plays in a circus! But be careful, if you give him a real team, he’ll burn the stadium down again! Because quite simply. Messi is still Messi, but today? It’s not his defeat, it’s the defeat of Inter Miami and football,” he concluded.
What’s Next For Lionel Messi, Inter Miami
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 29: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 29, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Despite the harsh criticism from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami accomplish a feat no MLS team could have dreamed of.
Among the three MLS squads that took part in the first edition of the 32-team 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami was the only one to advance to the knockout rounds. They finished second in Group A, getting a win and two draws.
Their lone victory wasn’t against weak opposition, either. They earned a huge 2-1 victory over FC Porto, a Portuguese side that had plenty of success in Europe over the years. Messi scored a remarkable free kick goal in the match, playing a major role in getting the team to the Round of 16.
Obviously, he and the squad won’t take moral victories. They lost in convincing fashion to the UEFA Champions League winners in PSG. It showed the talent gap remains significant as MLS has plenty of work to do to show they can compete with the best clubs in the world.
But for only a brief moment, Inter Miami can bask in the history they made in the tournament as Lionel Messi’s efforts helped them succeed in many ways.
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