Kolkata: Months after it became a landmark on Kolkata's VIP Road stretch, the giant statue of football legend Lionel Messi in Lake Town was dismantled on Monday over structural safety concerns.
Local residents had flagged that the monument appeared to sway visibly during strong winds, prompting an inspection that confirmed issues with the structure’s integrity.
West Bengal MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed the findings, saying the statue was found to be unsafe after a formal review.
“The statue of the Argentine football legend was found to be unsafe. We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind,” Mukherjee was quoted as saying.
The structure, which depicts Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, was installed ahead of the football icon’s India tour last December, during which he visited multiple cities alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. Kolkata was among the most anticipated stops of the trip and the statue quickly drew fans and became a familiar selfie spot in Lake Town.
Officials have clarified that the statue will be relocated rather than scrapped, with authorities now identifying a suitable site for reinstallation.