A towering tribute to football legend Lionel Messi is set to be dismantled just months after its unveiling after engineers in India declared the structure unsafe and structurally unstable.
The 21-metre (70-foot) golden statue, located in the Lake Town area of Kolkata, was built in honour of the Inter Miami and Argentina star following his recent tour of the region.
However, government engineers from West Bengal who inspected the monument reportedly found that it was swaying dangerously in the wind, raising serious safety concerns.
Because the structure is positioned along a busy main road, emergency teams were deployed on Wednesday to stabilise it temporarily using heavy-duty ropes secured around the statue.
Officials have since confirmed that the monument is no longer safe for public display and will be taken down as soon as logistical arrangements are completed.
Local authorities say dismantling the large structure in a congested urban area will be complex, and discussions are ongoing over whether it could later be repaired and relocated to a safer site.
The statue depicts Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, commemorating Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
It was reportedly unveiled remotely by Messi himself during a ceremony held in December.
While India is widely known for its cricket culture, football enjoys strong popularity in regions such as West Bengal, where fans have a deep passion for international football icons.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the statue will be rebuilt or permanently retired following its removal.
The development comes as Argentina, led by Argentina national football team, prepares for its upcoming international fixtures ahead of the next FIFA World Cup campaign.