It was a moment Lionel Messi had been waiting for his entire life. Having won many major titles throughout his impressive footballing career, lifting the World Cup was the icing on the cake.
But before he had chance to get his hands on the 36.5cm tall, 6kg, 18 karat gold trophy, he was awkwardly dressed in a black and gold robe by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
The Bisht, is a traditional Arab garment. It is a black cloak with gold trimmings that is a symbol of Arab identity and is worn for special or formal occasions. It is usually made of cotton, camel or sheep’s wool and the art of tailoring them is passed down through generations.
Sheikh Al Thani placing the bisht on Messi, was a sign of respect and honour in Arab culture.
While the gesture was intended to be an iconic moment to cap off Lionel Messi's historic campaign with Argentina in this year's World Cup, it did split opinion. Pundits and journalists alike took to social media to describe the gesture as 'sportswashing' by the hosts.
While others saw the act as a 'nice touch' that was highlighting a positive exchange of cultures. Messi captained his Argentina to the nations third World Cup in a tense final against former champions France.
The 35-year-old scored two goals and a penalty during the shootout in the thriller.
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