Lionel Messi being forced to wear a robe for World Cup presentation ‘ruined an iconic moment’
Fans have slammed World Cup organisers for forcing Lionel Messi to wear a black and gold robe for the trophy presentation. And the GOAT has snuck in a huge announcement.
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It was always going to be the Lionel Messi show but the controversy that came with the Argentina megastar winning the World Cup could not have been predicted by many.
Not long after beating France on penalties in what is being called the ‘greatest World Cup final ever’, Messi dropped some news that few saw coming.
This is not the end.
Many around the world predicted that win or lose this would be Messi’s final World Cup and last outing in the blue and white of his country.
But the man who has seemingly achieved everything in football has more ambition after vowing to continue playing.
“I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,” Messi, 35, told Argentine television in Doha.
“Obviously I would like to end my career with this, I cannot ask for more.
“My career is nearly over because these are my last years.”
And after so many disappointments on the biggest stage in football, including losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Brazil, Messi said he always felt his time would come.
“It’s crazy that it happened at the time it happened, but it’s amazing,” he said.
“It’s amazing that it could end this way. I said previously that God was going to grant me this and I don’t know why but I felt it was going to be this time.”
His jubilance came with fury as fans slammed Qatar organisers for focusing their hero to wear a black and gold robe for the trophy presentation.
As Argentina lifted the trophy, the iconic moment was ruined.
Messi followed Scaloni on to the stage for the presentation which was presented by Infantino and the Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It was the latter that put a black and gold Arabic robe over his shoulders.
The robe is known as a bisht; a traditional piece of clothing in the Arab world that has been worn for thousands of years.
The Emir handed Messi the robe, given out as a sign of respect.
They are traditionally worn on special occasions and usually worn as a status symbol
Fans felt the move ruined the iconic moment describing it as a “joke that genuinely ruined the beauty of the moment.”
One saving grace is Messi was snapped kissing the Jules Rimet trophy before being forced to change his kit.
British football pundit and former international Gary Linekar was furious.
“Amazing scenes, great pictures from above and great pictures from inside the ground as Argentina win the World Cup for the third time,” he said.
“It seems a shame, in a way, that they’ve covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt,”
Feel like that robe ruined an iconic moment of Messi lifting the trophy in his Argentina shirt…
— Lewis Coombes (@LewisCoombes) December 18, 2022
Not only did Messi win the world cup he got his robe and finally got into Gryffindor, you love to see it. pic.twitter.com/C2Pq3Vd0Sr
— Trappy (@J2Trappy_) December 18, 2022
Na the Ankara be this oh!!!
— Chibụndụm Ahanotu (@AhanotuKennedy) December 18, 2022
A robe wearing GOAT!#Messi𓃵#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/fouGVIn2DP
Making Messi wear that robe is absolutely grim. Sums up everything wrong with this World Cup
— Will Martin (@willmartin19) December 18, 2022
Imagine making Messi wear that silly robe on the most treasured moment of his sporting life.
— Rudi Schuller (@RudiSchuller) December 18, 2022
The robe was terrible
— Bergkamp & Bergkamp (@Orangeiceman10) December 18, 2022
Whatever its significance, it has nothing to do with Messi, Argentina or football
Really disliked the robe that was kinda forced onto Messi as he was presented with the World Cup, the image should've been of him draped in the blue and white stripes in the middle of hos teammates with the trophy in the air, the robe ruined the whole imagery for me.
— Inside The SPFL (@AgentScotland) December 18, 2022
Feel like that robe ruined an iconic moment of Messi lifting the trophy in his Argentina shirt…
— Lewis Coombes (@LewisCoombes) December 18, 2022
GOLDEN BALL
Messi didn’t just win the World Cup trophy he was also presented with the Golden Ball for the best player at this year’s tournament.
Messi scored twice in the final in Doha, taking his tally of goals at the tournament to seven, and also scored in the shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time.
Kylian Mbappe came second to Messi for that award but did win the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one ahead of the Argentine skipper.
Luka Modric came third in the running for the best player after helping Croatia finish third.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez took the Golden Glove for the World Cup’s best goalkeeper, while his compatriot Enzo Fernandez, 21, was named the best young player.
Argentina’s victory over France saw them claim the World Cup for the third time following their triumphs in 1978 and 1986
Originally published as Lionel Messi being forced to wear a robe for World Cup presentation ‘ruined an iconic moment’
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