Authorities in eastern India have announced plans to remove a massive statue of football icon Lionel Messi after engineers declared the structure unsafe.
The 21-metre golden-coloured statue, located in Kolkata, was erected to commemorate Messi’s visit to India during his “GOAT Tour” in December last year.
The sculpture, which depicts the Argentina captain lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, has reportedly begun swaying dangerously due to strong winds, prompting urgent safety concerns from officials.
West Bengal lawmaker Sharadwat Mukherjee said engineers from the state government inspected the structure and concluded that it posed a risk to public safety.
“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.”
On Wednesday, workers climbed the towering structure and used ropes to stabilise it temporarily as authorities considered the safest method for dismantling it.
Mukherjee noted that removing the statue had proven more complicated than expected because of its size and location along a busy roadway.
“Removal has proved easier said than done,” he stated. “We are planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity.”
Officials have yet to confirm whether the monument will be relocated or permanently dismantled.
Meanwhile, Messi is expected to lead Argentina national football team into the upcoming FIFA World Cup campaign, which begins on June 16 with a match against Algeria in Kansas City.
Although the 38-year-old has not officially confirmed his participation, he is widely anticipated to feature in what could become his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance.
India, despite being ranked 142nd in the FIFA rankings, remains one of football’s fastest-growing fan bases. While cricket dominates the country’s sporting landscape, football continues to enjoy widespread popularity and is regarded as the nation’s second most-followed sport, according to recent research by Nielsen.
