Zlatan defends Messi after CWC exit: He plays with 'statues' at Inter Miami

Zlatan Ibrahimovic defended Lionel Messi and ripped the rest of Inter Miami's squad following the team's elimination from the Club World Cup, comparing the Argentine star's supporting cast to "statues."

Miami was crushed 4-0 by Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 this past weekend, and Ibrahimovic, who played with Messi at Barcelona, was not impressed by what he saw around the iconic No. 10.

"It wasn't Leo Messi who lost; it was Inter Miami," the former Swedish star said, according to ESPN. "Messi plays with statues, not teammates. He's surrounded by players who run as if they were carrying bags of cement."

Ibrahimovic, who retired in 2023 after a decorated 24-year career that included stops at several of Europe's most storied clubs, also played in MLS, spending two seasons with the LA Galaxy. He scored 52 goals in 53 starts for the team.

He bemoaned the fact that fans in the United States didn't get to see the best of Messi at the Club World Cup. Ibrahimovic said Miami, which also has veterans Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba on the roster, lacks talent around its captain.

"This isn't the Messi I know," Ibrahimovic said. "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."

He added: "Messi plays alone because he loves the game, because he can still do what 99% of players can't. But this isn't the Messi I know."