Argentina fans were left bemused when Lionel Messi was draped in a Qatari bisht before lifting the country's third World Cup on Sunday.
Lionel Scaloni's side ended their 36-year wait to win the prestigious competition by beating France in a penalty shootout at the Lusail Stadium. Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappe bagged a hat-trick in what will be remembered as the greatest World Cup final.
Argentina fans have dreamt about Messi lifting the World Cup since he was named captain in 2011, yet they would have never imagined him wearing a black and gold robe, which covered his shirt. There is a good reason why the football icon wore it, however.
The bisht is a traditional piece of clothing in the Arab world that has been worn for generations. It's not worn everyday and is saved for special occasions, such as the crowning moment of Messi's career. It's also usually reserved for high-profile figures in society.
Members of the royal family, politicians, religious scholars and wealthy individuals are the type of individuals who usually wear the bisht. According to Arab News, there is no cloth that can provide the distinction of a hand-tailored bisht in Qatar.
The bisht was placed on Messi shoulders by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani moments before he lifted the trophy with his team-mates. The Paris Saint-Germain forward seemed happy to wear the robe.
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The decision to give Messi the bisht has divided opinion. Some critics believe it was respectful of Qatar to give the Argentina captain a culturally significant item, while others believe it was Qatar's way of imposing themselves on a historical moment.
Gary Lineker told the BBC : "Amazing scenes, great pictures from above and great pictures from inside the ground as Argentina win the World Cup for the third time... It seems a shame, in a way, that they've covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt."
Ex-Argentina international Pablo Zabaleta added: Just, why? Why? No reason to do that."
The 2022 World Cup is the first to be held in winter and the Arab world. It has been controversial due to the country's poor human rights record, with thousands of migrant works allegedly dying while building the tournament's infrastructure. Qatar disputes this.
In Qatar, homosexuality and the promotion of homosexuality is illegal, while women's rights are curbed. Several pro-LGBT+ protests have been quashed in Qatar by the local authorities, with some Wales fans having their rainbow bucket hats confiscated.
On the other hand, many have argued it was time for the Arab world to host a World Cup - while some believe the strong criticism Qatar has faced is the result of islamophobia and racism. There were fewer complaints when Russia hosted the 2018 tournament.
