As Messi walked across the stage during the World Cup trophy ceremony as the champion and best player of the tournament, the Emir of Qatar placed a black cloak–a bisht–around football’s GOAT, which he then wore as he hoisted the trophy above his head.
While the cloak was a familiar sight for those in the Arab world, not everyone recognized immediately the garment of clothing Messi was wearing.
So, what is a bisht? It is a traditional cloak worn in the Arab world for thousands of years, worn over the thawb (also known as the dishdasha and kandura) usually on prestigious or ceremonial occasions.
Why did Messi wear a bisht?
Usually, a bisht is worn during a wedding, during Eid, or by top officials such as tribal chiefs, kings, emirs or sheikhs. The word even apparently comes from the word meaning nobility.
Bisht, made from camel’s hair or goats wool, is spun into a fabric that is usually dyed black, but is sometimes brown, beige, cream or grey.
The Arab internet immediately rejoiced at the sighting of Messi in the traditional robe, celebrating and joking on Twitter and beyond.
Some even commented on the fact that this is a huge win for Qatar.
“Messi’ first World Cup victory photo has him wearing a bisht. Qatar has solidified their name in history. They represented Arabs all over the world. What an incredible ending to an incredible World Cup, and a well deserved victory for Argentina,” commented one Twitter user.