Qatar explains decision to dress Lionel Messi in cloak for World Cup trophy ceremony

Officials from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar have offered some explanation about why they placed a black see-through cloak onto winning captain Lionel Messi before the trophy lift after last night’s game.

Here’s the scenes in Buenos Aires as Argentina won last night, in case you haven’t already seen:

However, before that, the officials from Qatar made sure that the diminutive playmaker had a special cloak – known as a bisht – wrapped around his shoulders for the big moment.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani – Emir of Qatar - placed the robe on his back just before he had his big moment with the most treasured piece of gold in football.

Well, a bisht is a traditional garment worn for years in the Gulf used for special occasions and often bestowed upon individuals deserving of great respect and status.

It conveys a great appreciation to the wearer and is representative of the national dress of Qatar, though only worn at special times.

This – you’d have to agree – counts as one such time, given that it was arguably the greatest player ever receiving the highest honour in football in unquestionably Qatar’s biggest sporting moment.

Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary general of the Qatar World Cup organising committee, explained: “It is a dress for an official occasion and worn for celebrations. This was a celebration of Messi.

“The World Cup had the opportunity to showcase to the world our Arab and Muslim culture. This was not about Qatar, it was a regional celebration.”

“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.”

He added: “And this is a top occasion. I mean, there’s probably no bigger occasion, so they put it on him as a mark of honour.”