A giant statue of football superstar Lionel Messi erected in India to commemorate his 2025 visit is set to be removed after engineers found it structurally unsafe and “swaying in the wind”.
The 21m-tall golden-coloured statue, located in Kolkata, depicts the Argentina captain lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy. It was unveiled during Messi’s much-publicised “GOAT Tour of India” in December last year.
On May 27, workers climbed the towering fibreglass-and-iron structure, securing heavy-duty nylon ropes around its shoulders in an attempt to stabilise it. Barricades were also placed around the site to keep pedestrians and traffic away from the area.
West Bengal legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee said engineers from the Public Works Department inspected the statue following complaints from local residents and concluded that it posed a safety risk.
“The statue of the Argentine football legend was found unsafe,” Mr Mukherjee said. “We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind.”
He added that removing the statue would be challenging because of its proximity to a busy road and a nearby subway.
“Removal has proved easier said than done,” he said. “We are planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity.”
Authorities have not confirmed whether the statue will be relocated to another site.
Local reports said the monument was assembled over 27 days by a 45-member crew. Messi had virtually unveiled the statue during his India tour by appearing on a video screen and pressing a remote-control button.
The visit had generated huge excitement among football fans in India, where the sport enjoys immense popularity despite the country ranking 142nd in FIFA standings. Research released by Nielsen on May 27 identified football as India’s second most-followed sport after cricket.
Messi, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, is expected to lead Argentina in the upcoming FIFA World Cup campaign despite not yet formally confirming his participation.
AFP
