Former Barcelona and AC Milan striker, Zlatan Ibrahimović, has defended Lionel Messi after Inter Miami’s exit from the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
Messi was criticized in some sections of the social media for not being able to help Inter Miami beat PSG.
The Argentina forward failed to score as PSG thrashed Inter Miami 4-0 to qualify for the quarter-final.
Reacting, Ibrahimović insisted that Messi played at the Club World Cup with statues, adding that it was Inter Miami that lost not the 38-year-old Argentine.
“Lionel Messi didn’t lose today, Inter Miami did! Messi is playing with statues, not teammates, If he was still in a real team, you would see the lion,” Ibrahimović told FootMercato.
“He plays because he loves the game and because he can still do what 99% players can’t.”
Ibrahimović was Messi’s teammate during their time together at Barcelona.
Messi has already reacted to Inter Miami’s defeat to PSG.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner urged his teammates to focus on the upcoming Major League Soccer, MLS, campaign.