World Cup bisht to be kept in Barcelona home, says Messi

Doha: Argentine captain Lionel Messi revealed the fate of the iconic golden bisht he wore when the Qatar 2022 champions La Albiceleste lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy in December last year.

In an interview with Argentinian Ole magazine, Messi was asked about what items he had kept from the World Cup Final, to which he responded “everything".

“I have everything— the boots, the t-shirts, the cape (bisht),” the 35-year-old football star told Ole.

Messi also revealed that, come March, he would take with him his World Cup memorabilia, including the bisht, from its safekeeping at the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) to his Barcelona home where he has "many things and many memories".

In the tournament's most iconic image, the Argentine captain Messi was honoured with the golden bisht by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani moments before lifting the coveted World Cup trophy.

The “Messi bisht” has become synonymous with the most glorious moment of the Argentine footballer's career, and has even become a coveted collecter's item for some.

The crowning moment also saw more people inquiring about the traditional Arab men's garb, which is often associated with one's status or wealth.

In an interview with The Peninsula, Muhammad Mujammil, sales manager of the bisht's designer and maker Bisht AlSalem in Souq Waqif, said that within hours of the Argentine captain wearing it, other bishts in their store started “flying off the shelves.”

"We came to the shop to see a long line of people, especially Argentina fans, waiting to buy the bisht. They were particular about the Messi design, and some of them were insistent on not leaving until they could lay their hands on one,” he said.