Kolkata to Remove Giant Messi Statue

A towering Lionel Messi statue in India is set to be removed after engineers warned that the structure had become unsafe and unstable.

Authorities in the Indian city of Kolkata have announced plans to remove a giant statue of football icon Lionel Messi after concerns emerged over the structure’s safety. The 21-metre golden-coloured monument, which shows the Argentine captain lifting the World Cup trophy, was unveiled during Messi’s “GOAT Tour of India” in December last year.

According to West Bengal lawmaker Sharadwat Mukherjee, engineers working for the state government discovered that the statue had become unstable. He explained that officials noticed the structure moving dangerously during strong winds.

“The statue of the Argentine football legend in the city of Kolkata was found unsafe by engineers of the West Bengal government,” Mukherjee said.

“We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind.”

Workers were seen climbing the massive Lionel Messi structure on Wednesday and securing ropes around its shoulders in an effort to stabilise it temporarily. The statue currently overlooks one of Kolkata’s busy roads, raising concerns about public safety if the structure weakens further.

Mukherjee admitted that removing the statue has proven difficult because of its massive size. “Removal has proved easier said than done,” he said. “We are planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity.”

Officials have not confirmed whether the statue will be rebuilt at another location.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is widely expected to lead Argentina at the upcoming World Cup, despite not officially confirming his participation. If selected, the 38-year-old forward could make a record-equalling sixth appearance at the tournament as Argentina defends the title won in Qatar four years ago.

Do you think the Messi statue should be rebuilt at a safer location in Kolkata?