### Ibrahimovic's Critique: Inter Miami's Disappointing Club World Cup Exit - Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, faced a crushing defeat against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup, losing 4-0. This loss has sparked significant criticism, particularly from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did not hold back in his assessment of the team's performance and the quality of Messi's teammates, whom he described as "statues" [https://nypost.com/2025/06/30/sports/zlatan-ibrahimovic-blasts-inter-miami-players-after-club-world-cup-loss][https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/45627646/zlatan-ibrahimovic-lionel-messi-plays-statues-inter-miami]. ### Breakdown of the Situation: Key Points 1. **Match Overview**: Inter Miami's elimination from the Club World Cup came after a disappointing performance against PSG, where they failed to score and conceded four goals [https://www.themirror.com/sport/soccer/zlatan-ibrahimovic-lionel-messi-miami-1236620]. 2. **Ibrahimovic's Comments**: Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized the quality of Inter Miami's squad, suggesting that Messi is surrounded by players who do not match his caliber, thus limiting his impact on the game [https://www.beinsports.com/en-au/football/fifa-club-world-cup/articles-video/zlatan-says-messi-playing-with-statues-2025-07-01]. 3. **Messi's Reaction**: Following the defeat, Messi expressed a sense of bitterness regarding the situation that led to their early exit, indicating that the team did not perform to expectations [https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-there-bit-bitter-feeling-lionel-messi-laments-situation-led-psg-clash-club-world-cup-inter-miami-suffer-4-0-loss]. 4. **Financial Implications**: Despite the loss, Inter Miami will receive $21.05 million in prize money from the tournament, which is significantly more than what they could earn from a successful season in Major League Soccer [https://www.abc27.com/sports/sports-illustrated/f0c10c0f/big-ghost-in-a-circus-zlatan-ibrahimovic-weighs-in-on-messi-inter-miami-thrashing]. ### Supporting Evidence: Key Metrics and Reactions - **Match Statistics**: - **Score**: PSG 4 - 0 Inter Miami - **Goals Conceded**: 4 - **Goals Scored**: 0 - **Financial Outcome**: Inter Miami's prize money from the Club World Cup: **$21.05 million** [https://www.abc27.com/sports/sports-illustrated/f0c10c0f/big-ghost-in-a-circus-zlatan-ibrahimovic-weighs-in-on-messi-inter-miami-thrashing]. ### Conclusion: Analyzing the Fallout 1. **Disappointing Performance**: Inter Miami's early exit from the Club World Cup has raised questions about the team's overall quality and depth, particularly in relation to Lionel Messi's contributions. 2. **Ibrahimovic's Critique**: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's comments highlight a broader concern regarding the support Messi receives from his teammates, suggesting that without adequate support, even the best players can struggle [https://www.tuko.co.ke/sports/football/594733-club-world-cup-zlatan-ibrahimovic-slams-lionel-messis-inter-miami-exit]. 3. **Future Implications**: The financial gain from the tournament may provide some consolation, but the team's performance will likely lead to increased scrutiny and pressure to improve in future competitions [https://www.abc27.com/sports/sports-illustrated/f0c10c0f/big-ghost-in-a-circus-zlatan-ibrahimovic-weighs-in-on-messi-inter-miami-thrashing].