Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, honoured Lionel Messi with a black cloak known as a Beshth during the FIFA World Cup trophy ceremony at the coruscating Lusail Stadium on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood alongside the Emir as he draped the black cloak over the multiple UEFA Champions League winner.
According to media personality Tallie Dar, the cloak the Argentine skipper was awarded is not ordinary.
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He disclosed that the Qatari leader handed Messi the Beshth as a sign of respect for leading his nation to the title.
“Messi is honoured as royalty in his Argentinian shirt, as the King of Football. It’s poetic.
“The black cloak is called a 'Beshth'. Arabian warriors wore it after a victory. The royal family also wears it.
“Emir of Qatar gave Messi the honour as a sign of respect, he’s a warrior who won for his country Argentina,” ended Dar.
The robe is made of goat wool and camel hair and is only worn during special occasions, particularly by religious leaders and royalty.
Messi removed it immediately after the trophy presentation and could be seen dancing in jubilation as the celebrations continued.
His jersey had three stars, highlighting the number of World Cup trophies his country has won since the beginning of the competition (1978, 1986, and 2022).
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