Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
A giant statue of Argentine football star Lionel Messi is dismantled in Kolkata, India, June 1, 2026, after concerns over the safety of its base prompted its relocation.

Video. Giant Lionel Messi statue dismantled in Kolkata

Updated:

A 21-metre statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata has been removed less than a year after its unveiling due to safety fears over its stability in strong winds.

A 21-metre statue of Lionel Messi has been removed in Kolkata after engineers warned that the structure was unsafe.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The sculpture, which showed the Argentina captain lifting the World Cup trophy, was unveiled in December during the football star's GOAT Tour of India and quickly became a popular local landmark.

Officials said the statue was swaying in strong winds, raising concerns about its structural integrity.

The decision to take it down came less than a year after it was installed. What began as a tribute to Messi's visit has now become a public safety issue.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT