Ibrahimovic defends Messi after heavy defeat: 'When he plays with Ronaldo...'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish striker and current executive at AC Milan, has come out strongly in defense of Lionel Messi following Inter Miami’s crushing 4–0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The result ended Messi’s hopes of lifting the title with the MLS side and sparked immediate debate across the global football community.

While many were quick to point fingers after the rout some targeting Messi’s age, others criticizing the tactical setup of Inter Miami Ibrahimovic chose a different stance. Speaking to Foot Mercato, Ibrahimovic delivered a fiery and passionate response, defending Messi’s legacy while issuing a scathing critique of the quality around him in the Inter Miami squad, a team owned by David Beckham.

“Messi’s defeat? No, don’t talk about the loss like it’s his fault. Messi didn’t lose Inter Miami did,” Zlatan stated. “Did you watch that match? Messi was surrounded by statues, not teammates. How is a player like him supposed to function in such an environment? If he were playing for a real team, in Paris, Manchester, or any serious club, you’d be seeing the real lion. But instead, we see him isolated, disconnected, and unsupported.”

Ibrahimovic, never one to hold back, did not sugarcoat his assessment of the American side. In his eyes, the problem wasn't Messi’s performance, but the lack of basic footballing structure, talent, and ambition around him. “He only continues to play because he loves this sport and because he can still do things 99% of players only dream of doing. But when he’s surrounded by players who run like they’re dragging sacks of cement, what do you expect? There are no coaches, no stars, not even players who know how to move without the ball. What system is this?”

The former striker, known for his charisma and ego as much as his incredible footballing talent, used the moment to point out the wider conversation surrounding Messi in the twilight of his career. “People want to blame Messi for this exit? Wait until he plays with real names again with Ronaldo, with Mbappé, with Haaland, or with Zlatan,” he said with a smirk. “Then you can judge. But now? No. This isn’t the Messi I know. This is a ghost, a great ghost, forced to perform in a circus. But don’t mistake that for weakness. If you give him a real team, a proper footballing environment, he will ignite the stadium again.”

The criticism comes at a pivotal time in Messi’s career. Having left Europe to join Inter Miami in 2023, the Argentine legend brought global attention to Major League Soccer. His arrival sparked a surge in ticket sales, shirt revenue, and international viewership. However, questions have remained about how competitive the league really is and whether Messi could maintain his world-class standards while surrounded by significantly less talent than he had at FC Barcelona or PSG.

Against PSG ironically one of his former clubs Messi looked visibly frustrated, unable to influence the match as he had in previous outings. While his technical quality was still apparent in glimpses, he was isolated throughout the game, with Miami failing to control possession or create dangerous link-up play. PSG, on the other hand, were clinical and composed, dismantling the MLS side with ease.

Zlatan’s defense of Messi also indirectly addressed the state of Inter Miami. Despite the club's ambition and ownership pedigree, it remains clear that it is still some distance away from competing with the elite clubs on the international stage. The defeat exposed not only gaps in quality but in preparation, cohesion, and tactical identity.

“This is not Messi’s defeat,” Zlatan concluded. “This is a failure of structure, ambition, and support. You give a warrior a wooden sword and send him into battle don’t blame him when he doesn’t come back victorious. Messi continues to be Messi. He has nothing to prove. But Inter Miami? They have everything to prove. Today was a loss for the team, and for football, because fans around the world deserved to see Messi on a stage worthy of his talent.”

Ibrahimovic’s remarks have since gone viral, sparking debate not just about Messi, but about the wider project at Inter Miami and what MLS must do if it truly wants to compete on a global level. Some agree wholeheartedly with the Swede, arguing that Messi’s legacy is too great to be stained by poor results in an underdeveloped league. Others say it’s time for accountability even legends must be held to standard, regardless of where they play.

What remains undeniable is this: Messi’s presence in the Club World Cup brought eyes, attention, and pressure. The outcome may have been disappointing, but the conversation it has sparked about ambition, quality, and football’s global balance will continue long after the final whistle.