World champion Argentina: what is the shirt they put on Lionel Messi before lifting the Cup

Lionel Messi had already received the Ballon d’Or, the award for best player of the World Cup in Qatar 2022. They had also hung the champion’s medal on him. Even he himself had anticipated the ritual: before lifting it, he had filled kisses and caresses at the FIFA World Cup. Immediately after the protocol greetings, it was the turn of the historical photo: the delivery of the trophy and the offer made to the fans and the television cameras.

But unlike other editions, however, the image remained fixed for posterity with a curiosity: a typical tunic presented to him by the Qatari authorities.

As captain and figurehead of the world champion Argentine team, Messi was the last to take the stage for the awarding of medals. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, hung the souvenir on him. Rosario’s man has passed through all hands: from the Qatari authorities to Emmanuel Macron, president of France, up to yet another embrace with Claudio Chiqui Tapia, head of AFA.

they had told him something in the ear. He arrived at the foot of the trophy to finally join the list of chosen ones who know how much the Cup weighs. But he had to wait a few seconds to make the postcard he wanted so much.

Next to him sat the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thaniwhich surprised with a final touch to the world champion’s outfit. Behind the Rosary, she placed it on her shoulders and then helped her put her arms through a typical Emirati cloak.

Semi-transparent and with golden details, the besht -as this garment is called- covered as a dark gauze Messi’s silhouette for the team’s climactic photograph in a Controversial World Cup in geopolitics. Less than five minutes later, he was already dressed in radiant blue and white.

What is the besht, the millennial tunic worn by world champion Lionel Messi

Thousands of years in the Arab world, tradition indicates that it is confidential for very special occasions. Who has permission to use it usually it is the emir. It does, for example, every Qatar Founder’s Day, on December 18, in commemoration of the country’s unification. This time, moreover, that day coincided with the final of the 2022 World Cup.

It is also worn by prominent Qatari personalities on religious occasions and is often worn the father to the son when he marries.

By giving it to her and personally putting this garment on her (which Messi wore its summer versionhence its translucent character), Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani entertained the Rosary and she treated him like a king.

This typical element is also a representation of the luxurious Arabian textile tradition, which has kept this garment for at least two millennia. The fabric from which it is made carried camel hair and sheep wool, although synthetic garments are also sold today.

There are those who continue to do it according to tradition and take up to 15 days to hand finish a single unit. In these cases, it can cost the equal to 700 thousand pesos.

But it is also offered on the usual online sales pages, such as eBay. To bring it to Argentina you have to pay approx 9,000 pesos, not counting shipping and customs costs.

However, Argentines who want to dress like Messi They already have an alternative.

Messi’s jacket, in Mercado Libre

Between vuvuzelas and albiceleste shirts, this Sunday after the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, the main online sales page in Argentina has already proposed the cape Messi wore when he lifted the World Cup.

“Arab Tunic Champion Messi”, was the title with which a seller promoted the publication of a low cost version of the besht. He illustrated the product with five images of the Argentine captain at the festivities and also with a model originally from the Arab world.

The price? A deal: 10 thousand pesos.

“Do you have it in blue and white?” one interested asked. “No. Only the original. Made in Qatar,” he promised. the seller, located in Córdoba and which seems to be dedicated to a completely different thing: the traditional garment is at odds with dozens of used trucks.

At his own, Messi knocked him out about 5 minutes later. Enough to respect the protocols and for the Emir to have the photo he dreamed of: the best player in the world, the Cup and a historical symbol of Qatar.

DS