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Messi statue 'unsafe' in India to be moved

2026-05-27 16:28:00, Sport CNA

Messi statue 'unsafe' in India to be moved

A 22-meter-tall statue of Lionel Messi in India will be removed after it was seen "swaying in the wind".

The giant monument in Kolkata, West Bengal, was erected in December during Messi's 'GOAT' tour of the country - GOAT meaning 'greatest of all time'.

According to local media, engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) conducted an inspection of the statue following complaints from local residents on Monday.

The immediate removal and relocation of the statue was ordered after inspection revealed that the structural integrity of the statue was severely compromised.

"The statue of the Argentine football legend was found unsafe," said West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee.

"We noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind."

Mukherjee said the statue's proximity to a busy road and a subway makes removing the statue "easier said than done," but that they plan to "remove the statue as soon as possible."

Local media say the fiberglass and iron structure has been secured with strong nylon ropes, while barricades have been erected to keep people and traffic away from the site.

Authorities are said to be exploring alternative locations for the statue, which was assembled over 27 days by a team of 45 people.

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game, unveiled the statue virtually - he appeared on a video screen and pressed a button on a remote control - in December, although his visit to Kolkata was overshadowed by violence during an appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium.





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