Kolkata Messi statue declared unsafe, slated for removal

A giant statue of football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, has been declared unsafe and is slated for removal after being observed swaying in the wind. The 70-foot-tall, gold-colored iron statue, depicting the Argentine player holding the World Cup trophy, was erected in the Lake Town area last December to commemorate his visit to the city.

Officials said engineers from the West Bengal state government inspected the structure and determined it was unstable. A state legislator, Sharadwat Mukherjee, confirmed the finding, stating the statue of the Argentine football legend was found unsafe. He noted that authorities are planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity but acknowledged the process is challenging due to the monument's size and its location near a busy road. As a precaution, workers used ropes to secure the statue on Wednesday.

The statue was unveiled during what was promoted as Messi's "GOAT Tour" of India. Its virtual inauguration was conducted by Messi himself earlier this year. The installation was intended as a tribute to the player, who is widely considered one of the sport's greatest, and celebrates Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar.