70ft Lionel Messi statue in India taken down for safety reasons after swaying in the wind

FootballSports
28 May 2026 • 9:29 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

70ft Lionel Messi statue in India taken down for safety reasons after swaying in the wind

  • A 70ft statue of Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, is being removed less than six months after its unveiling.
  • Engineers from the West Bengal government deemed the golden-coloured statue unsafe after it was observed swaying in the wind.
  • Ropes were reportedly used to secure the structure after complaints about its instability.
  • The statue, which only vaguely resembled Messi, had previously drawn criticism for its appearance when erected last December.
  • It was commissioned by a local football club whose president, Sujit Bose, was later arrested on corruption allegations.

IN FULL

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved