“Has FIFA Officially declared the GOAT of Football?, has Messi finally graduated in football?” These and more has been asked around since the time Lionel Messi was given a special black Robe to wear at the Crowning of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The reason why Messi was given that special Black Robe at the World Cup in Qatar has been finally explained.
Before Messi raised the World Cup Trophy, the Emir of Qatar made him wear the bisht, a robe made of camel hair and goat wool that is worn by royalty.
The bisht is a camel-hair and goat-wool robe used on important occasions in the Arab culture. It is a robe used by royalty or religious leaders, and Qatar viewed the moment when Messi raised the trophy as the cherry on top.
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presented to Messi “bisht” to honour the captain of Argentina and also as a sign of cultural welcome.
“Only a select few people would actually wear the bisht,” Dr Mustafa Baig – a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter told Press Association, as per SkySports.
“They basically honoured him (Messi) by putting it over his shoulders. It’s like a mark of honour, and just kind of a cultural welcoming and a cultural acceptance.
“This is a top occasion. I mean, there’s probably no bigger occasion, so they put it on him as a mark of honour.”