As we watched a bemused-looking Lionel Messi being draped in a bisht ahead of the crowning moment of his glorious career, the buzz of a brilliant World Cup final quickly gave way to the reminder that this whole tournament was never about the football.
Messi was flanked by Fifa president Gianni Infantino and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, both of whom seemed keen to join the team photo, with Infantino in…
