'Swaying In The Wind': Ropes Secure 70-Ft Messi Statue As Removal Plans Begin In Kolkata

A 70-foot statue of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata is set to be removed after engineers reportedly found the structure unsafe following complaints from residents that it was swaying during strong winds. The giant golden-coloured monument, installed on VIP Road in Lake Town, was unveiled during Messi’s GOAT Tour visit to Kolkata in December last year. The statue depicts the Argentina captain holding the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. As an interim safety measure, authorities have secured the fibreglass-and-iron structure using heavy-duty nylon ropes tied at multiple points around its waist and fixed to the base. Barricades have also been erected while one vehicular access route from Lake Town has been closed to restrict movement near the site.