Messi's 70-foot statue in India to be removed over safety concerns

A 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, is set to be removed after structural safety issues were identified, authorities said Wednesday.

The golden monument, depicting the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami player raising the World Cup trophy, was erected in December during Messi's "GOAT" tour of the country—GOAT standing for "greatest of all time." The statue stands at Lake Town in West Bengal's capital city.

Engineers from the Public Works Department conducted an inspection of the structure following complaints from local residents on Monday. The inspection found the statue's structural integrity to be severely compromised. "The statue of the Argentine football legend was found to be unsafe," said West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee. "We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind."

Workers have secured the 21-metre structure with ropes around its shoulders in an effort to stabilize it. The proximity of the statue to a busy road and a subway system added to safety concerns, according to officials.

Mukherjee acknowledged the practical challenges involved in the removal process. "Removing it is easier said than done," he told AFP, without specifying whether the statue would be relocated to another site or dismantled entirely.

The statue was remotely unveiled by Messi during his visit to India last year, marking a significant moment in the country's football culture.