Messi’s GOAT statue in India to be removed over safety concerns A 21-metre (70-foot) golden statue of football legend Lionel Messi, erected in Kolkata, India, to commemorate his 2023 visit, is set to be dismantled due to safety concerns. The sculpture, depicting Messi raising the World Cup trophy, was unveiled during his "GOAT Tour" (Greatest of All Time Tour) across India in December. However, West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee revealed that engineers have deemed the structure unsafe, citing its tendency to sway in strong winds. Workers have begun securing the statue using ropes to stabilize it while it looms over a busy road in Kolkata. Mukherjee, speaking to AFP, emphasized the risks posed by the structure’s instability. “The statue of the Argentine football legend in Kolkata was found unsafe by engineers of the West Bengal government,” he stated. “We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind.” Despite efforts to secure it, the removal process remains uncertain. “Removal has proved easier said than done,” Mukherjee added, noting that the exact timeline for dismantling the statue is still under discussion. Mukherjee did not confirm whether the statue would be re-erected at another site. The decision to remove the statue has sparked debate, with some questioning the feasibility of relocating it. However, the focus remains on addressing the immediate safety risks posed by the structure. The statue was part of a broader initiative to promote football in India, a country with a population of 1.4 billion that is a cricket powerhouse but ranks 142nd in FIFA’s global rankings. While football is the second most popular sport in the nation, according to Nielsen data, the statue symbolized efforts to elevate the sport’s profile.#kolkata #west_bengal #lionel_messi #sharadwat_mukherjee #goat_tour
