This photo will grace the front pages of newspapers around the world on Monday. Lionel Messi, who is at arm’s length from the World Cup, finally gives the trophy that was running away from him to the best player in the history of this sport. But the Argentine and PSG star, crowned after a legendary final won against the Blues on Sunday, is dressed differently from the rest of his teammates cheering behind him on the podium.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner wears what looks like a sheer black cape on his back over his national team jersey. A suit received moments earlier when the striker, the last one standing on the podium to receive the trophy as captain of his team, passes between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Emir of the host country of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al- Then I am.
In the video, we see how the head of state of this Persian Gulf country puts clothes close to his back. The player looks surprised and puzzled, as applause is heard from the stands, and Infantino himself welcomes the initiative. But Lionel Messi lets himself go and takes the Cup with a smile before joining his teammates who are waiting for him to celebrate. According to The Daily Telegraph, whoever was named MVP of the tournament then got rid of him to don the Argentine jersey with a new third star.
But this “cloak” worn by Lionel Messi has a strong meaning. This is the bisht, the traditional Arab coat most often worn by men for ceremonies. It is also associated with royalty. A strong symbol as this 2022 World Cup will be the first to be hosted in an Arab country. By making Lionel Messi wear these clothes to lift the cup, which is a completely unusual initiative at the World Cup, Qatar intends to emphasize the specifics of this World Cup. In short, a demonstration of soft power.
“As a Qatari, I am very proud and very pleased with what we have done,” said PSG President Nasse Al-Khelaifi at the beIN Sports microphone. We showed the whole world that we are a country, that we are good people, not bad. Organization, infrastructure, security in Qatar, fans, training facilities, everything, I am very proud of my country. I am sure that this is the best World Cup in history. »
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
