Paris Saint-Germain swept apart Inter Miami 4-0 within the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16, however it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s post-match blast – not simply the scoreline – that dominated headlines.
The French and European champions stormed to a four-goal first-half lead at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, advancing to the quarterfinals, the place they’ll face Bayern Munich.
But the dialog shifted dramatically after full time when Ibrahimovic, talking as a pundit for beIN Sports, tore into Inter Miami’s efficiency whereas fiercely defending Lionel Messi.
Joao Neves opened the scoring within the sixth minute, with a second strike within the thirty ninth.
A Tomas Aviles personal objective and a late first-half end from Achraf Hakimi accomplished the dismantling.
Inter Miami, regardless of boasting legends like Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, didn’t register a single shot on the right track and have been overwhelmed by PSG’s tempo, urgent, and precision.
Under coach Luis Enrique, PSG have appeared ruthless.
After topping Group A with wins over Al-Nassr, River Plate, and Auckland City, they maintained momentum in Atlanta, dominating possession and finishing 92% of their passes.
Meanwhile, Inter Miami appeared pedestrian, gradual, disjointed, and disorganized.
And Zlatan allow them to have it.
“Messi didn’t lose – Inter Miami lost,” he stated. “It’s like he’s playing with statues. They move like they’re dragging cement bags! If Messi had teammates who actually moved, he’d set the stadium on fire.”
The 42-year-old Swede’s imagery was classic Zlatan – blunt, biting, and brutal.
But statistics backed his rage. Inter Miami accomplished simply 78% of their passes and posted a woeful 0.3 anticipated targets. Even Messi, nonetheless the centerpiece at 38, managed simply 42 touches and no photographs.
Zlatan additionally took purpose at Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano, saying, “There’s no coach here. No stars. No one who knows how to move off the ball. This isn’t the Messi I know.”
Mascherano has been underneath strain for a lot of the 2025 MLS season.
Though Miami sit third within the East, critics argue the crew’s reliance on growing old stars has stifled its potential to compete in opposition to elite squads like PSG.
Miami’s common beginning XI age in opposition to PSG was 32.4 – practically six years older than PSG’s.
And whereas Suarez, Alba, and Busquets carry pedigree, they’ve lacked the depth wanted at this stage.
Yet, amid the scathing criticism, Zlatan reserved admiration for Messi’s enduring genius.
“He’s a PlayStation. Give him the ball, and he’ll beat everyone. He still does what 99% of players can’t,” he stated. “It’s just that no one around him can keep up anymore.”
Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, loved a honeymoon section after Messi’s 2023 arrival, profitable the Leagues Cup and ending second within the 2024 MLS East.
But with no silverware in 2025 and their Club World Cup dream ended, questions loom massive.
PSG, in contrast, look each inch the contender.
Joao Neves, signed from Benfica for 60 million euros ($70.4 million) in 2024, continues to shine as a midfield dynamo.
Hakimi’s objective capped a classic show of attacking soccer, with Neymar and Ousmane Dembele providing depth and hazard throughout the pitch.
As for Messi, his contract expires in December. While ESPN reviews he’s anticipated to increase by 2026, uncertainty swirls.
Source: www.dailysabah.com