Lionel Messi Statue in Kolkata Declared Unsafe After Swaying Concerns
A 70 foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata is set to be removed after engineers found it unsafe. Installed in Lake Town during Messi’s Dec. 2025 India tour, the fibreglass and iron structure reportedly began swaying in strong winds.
Authorities secured the statue with nylon ropes and barricades while officials considered relocating the tribute to a safer location. When the West Bengal government unveiled a 70 foot statue of football icon Lionel Messi in Kolkata after his 2025 India visit, it was seen as a grand tribute to the 2022 FIFA World Cup winning captain. The massive structure, built with fibreglass and supported by an iron framework, was installed in the Lake Town area following Messi’s appearance in India during the G.O.A.T. India Tour alongside Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
However, only a few months later, the statue has now been declared unsafe and is set to be removed. Local residents raised concerns after noticing the giant structure moving during strong winds. Engineers from the Public Works Department inspected the statue on May 25, 2026, and found serious issues with its structural stability.
West Bengal legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed that the statue was swaying and could pose a danger to the public. Authorities have now secured the area with barricades and heavy duty nylon ropes to prevent accidents. Officials are also exploring possible alternative locations where the statue can be safely relocated in the future.
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