Ibrahimovic Lashes Out At Messi On PSG Loss: 'Big Ghost Who Plays In A Circus'

Last Updated:June 30, 2025, 20:40 IST

Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized Inter Miami after their 4-0 loss to PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup, saying the MLS team let Lionel Messi down. Joao Neves scored twice for PSG.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (AP)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lashed out at Inter Miami after their humiliation at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain at the FIFA Club World Cup, saying the Major League Soccer (MLS) side let Lionel Messi down.

Joao Neves scored twice as PSG swept aside Messi and Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, securing their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency.

“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?" Ibrahimovic was quoted as saying by Footmercato.

“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] Mbappe, 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."

How PSG Beat Inter Miami?

The French side asserted their dominance within six minutes, with Neves moving unmarked to the far post to power home a precise header from a free kick.

Neves doubled their lead in the 39th minute after a flowing move, as Bradley Barcola found Fabian Ruiz, whose exquisite cross was clinically converted by the Portuguese.

Any hopes of a Miami comeback were extinguished in the first half as Messi and his team barely got a look in, and their misery deepened further when Tomas Aviles turned Desire Doue’s cross into his own net.

Achraf Hakimi added the fourth goal, pouncing after his initial shot struck the crossbar, just before halftime.

Messi became more involved after the break. His header was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma following a quick counter-attack, and he struck the wall with a late free kick that brought the crowd to their feet in anticipation of a consolation goal that never materialised.

The Champions League winners march on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha...

Read More

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