Miami was the only MLS team to progress to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, but its campaign came to a halt with a 4-0 defeat to European champion Paris Saint-Germain on Monday.

Javier Mascherano's team did not manage a single shot in the first half. Indeed, PSG scored more goals before the break (four) than Miami completed passes in the final third (three).

Messi finished the game with four shots, but could not help Miami grab a consolation goal.

Though Miami's squad also includes the likes of Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, Ibrahimovic believes 38 year-old Messi is being held back.

"It wasn't Leo Messi who lost, it was Inter Miami," Ibrahimovic said. "Messi plays with statues, not team-mates.

"He's surrounded by players who run as if they were carrying bags of cement."

Messi scored only one goal at the tournament, curling in a sensational free-kick in Miami's group-stage win over Porto.

Ibrahimovic claimed: "This isn't the Messi I know.

"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.

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

Miami resumes its MLS season this weekend, when it takes on CF Montreal.