Photos by Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Doha: The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has come and gone, and Argentina's La Albiceleste, led by the mercurial Lionel Messi, are better for it, with the crowning glory of world football returning to Buenos Aires for the first time in 36 years.
Out of the many spectacular and iconic images that came out of the final match played at the 88,966-capacity Lusail Stadium last Sunday between the South American team and France, one picture, however, was quite striking: the honoring of the Argentine captain by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the golden bisht.
The historical moment, watched live by millions across the world, was an instant hit as the footage and pictures went viral within minutes, resulting in many people inquiring to know more about the traditional Arab men’s cloak associated with royalty, religious position, wealth, and ceremonial occasions, like the black-tie tuxedo in the West.
"Our bishts started flying off the shelves within hours of the Argentine captain wearing it," Muhammad Mujammil, sales manager of the bisht's designer and maker, Bisht AlSalem in Souq Waqif, told The Peninsula.
"We came to the shop on Monday 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 noted.
He went on to say that most fans were unconcerned about the cost as they were willing to pay anything to get one.
"We've never had the kind of volumes of sales like we are having since the Messi-effect. Up until now, people have been asking about it, and when they come, all they seem interested in getting is the "Messi" bisht. "Business has been so good, and we wish the World Cup would continue," Mujammil said.
According to him, the "Messi bisht", which has a QR4,500 price tag, took almost 10 days to produce, with seven people working on it.
"The intricate design was made to perfection from start to finish by hand, and we ensured that we worked to the fine details of the order. "We knew how important the order was, and we are very proud to be associated with the success of the World Cup, so we cannot afford to make any mistake with the design," he said.
Mujammil said orders are still coming in and the shop is overwhelmed with requests, both from Qatar and abroad.
"The cheapest of our bisht cost as little as QR200, while some can cost as much as QR10,000 and more. The design and the materials, such as gold, silver, and other precious elements, determine the cost. "We have materials for all segments of society," he noted.
Comme Leo Messi au moment de la remise de la coupe, les fans argentins adoptent le bisht au Souq Waqif. ???????? pic.twitter.com/fKgJ479ZdT
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) December 19, 2022
With Qatar successfully hosting the very first FIFA World Cup to be staged in the Middle East and Arab world, the adorning of Messi, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and the tournament's Best Player, with the bisht will go down in history as an iconic moment when Arab tradition was perfectly fused into the beautiful game of football, producing a result that was a spectacle to behold.
