By Staff Reporter
New Delhi: A giant statue of football icon Lionel Messi erected in India following his visit last year is set to be removed after authorities found it unsafe, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.
The 21-metre-tall golden statue, located in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, was unveiled during Messi’s “GOAT Tour of India” in December and depicts the Argentine star lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy.
Authorities moved to secure the structure after engineers determined that it had become unstable. Workers were seen climbing the towering statue and fastening ropes around its shoulders in an effort to stabilise it.
Sharadwat Mukherjee, a legislator in India’s West Bengal, said government engineers had flagged safety concerns.
“The statue of the Argentine football legend in the city of Kolkata was found unsafe by engineers of the West Bengal government,” Mukherjee said, adding that officials had noticed the structure “swaying in the wind”.
The statue stands over a busy roadway, raising concerns over public safety. Mukherjee said authorities are working to dismantle it but acknowledged that the process is proving difficult.
“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 monument will be relocated or reinstalled at another site.
Messi, 38, currently plays for Inter Miami CF and remains central to Argentina national football team’s plans as the reigning world champions prepare to defend their title at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Although Messi has not officially confirmed his participation, he is widely expected to feature in what could be a record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance. Argentina begin their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.
While India remains a global powerhouse in cricket and sits 142nd in the FIFA rankings, football continues to enjoy strong popularity and ranks as the country’s second most-followed sport, according to research released by Nielsen on Wednesday.
