Lionel Messi and the World Cup have left Qatar with a richer sports legacy
Reminders of Lionel Messi and the 2022 World Cup are not hard to find in Qatar.
“Last chance” tournament souvenirs greet visitors on arrival at Doha's Hamad International Airport. In Souq Waqif — a vibrant eating and shopping area — replica World Cup trophies and shirts are on sale. Decorative soccer balls remain inside the metro carriages.
Elsewhere, a poster of Messi stands tall in a shopping mall, announcing the imminent arrival of a coffee house brand that sponsors Argentina's national team.
But just over a year on, what is the real sporting legacy for Qatar after soccer's showpiece was staged in the Middle East for the first time?
The country is currently playing host to another major soccer tournament, the Asian Cup, which organizers say “reaffirms Qatar’s place as a global sporting capital.”
The natural gas-rich nation certainly knows how to put on a show. State-of-the-art stadiums and public transport catered to millions of fans during the World Cup.
