⚽ Kolkata's 70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue Removed Over Safety Fears
⚽ Kolkata's 70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue Removed Over Safety Fears
The giant 70-foot Lionel Messi statue that towered over Kolkata's Lake Town is no more — at least for now.
On Monday, June 1, 2026, the Public Works Department (PWD) carefully dismantled and removed the massive monument of the Argentine football legend after it was found to be structurally unstable.
🌪️ What went wrong?
The trouble began when local residents noticed something alarming — the giant statue was visibly swaying during recent storms. They alerted the Lake Town police station, and a joint inspection by police and PWD officials followed. The contractor reported faults in the statue's foundation bolts and warned that the structure was dangerous and at risk of collapse.
With the monsoon season approaching and the statue standing right above a busy underground pedestrian crossing on the VIP Road stretch, authorities decided the risk to commuters and traffic was simply too high to ignore.
🏗️ A careful takedown
Using hydraulic cranes, heavy-duty cables and scaffolding, engineers lowered the fibreglass figure from its 20-foot concrete plinth without any further damage. The statue has now been moved into PWD custody, reportedly at a warehouse in Baguiati.
📍 What's next?
There's no official word yet on where the statue will go. Rumours suggest it could be re-installed at Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park, but the final call rests with the state government.
✨ A short-lived landmark
The statue had a brief but eventful run. It was unveiled only in December, during Messi's GOAT Tour of India — virtually inaugurated by Messi himself, with Shah Rukh Khan joining the celebrations. Commissioned by the Sreebhumi Sporting Club, the towering tribute was reportedly built in just 40 days, which may explain why structural problems surfaced so soon.
From a grand unveiling to an unexpected exit in under six months — the Messi statue's Kolkata chapter has taken a dramatic turn. Now fans wait to see where the GOAT will rise again. 🐐
#StatueOfLionelMessi #Kolkata #MessiStatue #WBNews #KolkataNews #LionelMessi #LakeTown #Football
