Lionel Messi Gianni Infantino Hamad Al-Thani Qatar France Usa Argentina soccer FIFA World Cup cup Lionel Messi Gianni Infantino Hamad Al-Thani Qatar France Usa Argentina

Worldwide debate rages about Messi's robe, a bisht, while lifting the World Cup

news24.com

Inspired by a mesmerising Lionel Messi performance, Argentina finally ended a 36-year wait to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy on Sunday.All eyes were on captain Messi as he took to the stage to lift the 18 carat gold trophy as he has now won every major football tournament.However, after collecting his gold medal from FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani wrapped the 35-year-old in a black robe known as a bisht.READ | 'We're champions of the world' cries joyous Messi as he echoes MaradonaThe South Americans had defeated France in a penalty shootout following the 3-3 scoreline at the end of extra-time in a thrilling end to a phenomenal tournament held in Qatar, a Muslim country.Messi, who was full of smiles, wore the bisht with immense honour, took to the centre of the stage, surrounded by his Argentine teammates, as fireworks and confetti took to the sky as he raised the trophy.READ | Argentina's Scaloni on World Cup victory: 'It has not yet sunk in!'The gesture by the Emir of Qatar, who donned a bisht himself, had some tongues wagging, and some heads shaking, believing it clouded Messi and Argentina's moment.It was a tournament that was beset with political innuendo even before it began, starting with the controversial decision to award Qatar the rights to host and then the outpouring of tales about the treatment of immigrant workers, no alcohol consumption in stadiums on matchdays and (lack of) LGBTQ+ rights in the state.The final act by Qatar's ruler brought all the political accusations back to the fore, with some accusing the state of usurping the moment to forever etch Qatar's image in football and sporting history books - the last scrub of their sports washing attempt.Others took a

Related News
After the World Cup earned Qatar both plaudits and censure, the energy-rich Gulf state is now starting a marathon to secure the 2036 Olympics and a place as a pillar of world sport.

Latest News

Change privacy settings
This page might use cookies if your analytics vendor requires them.