Kolkata will unveil what local authorities are calling the world’s tallest bronze statue dedicated to Lionel Messi, a 70-foot-tall, or more than 20-metre, steel structure erected by the city’s sports club to mark the Argentine footballer’s arrival in India.
The piece, located in the Laketown area, depicts Messi lifting the World Cup and was completed in about 40 days, according to its creator, although final touches are still being done.
“It’s a 70-foot statue. There’s no other statue of Messi this big. It took us 40 days to build it.”
The inauguration marks the start of the Argentine player’s visit to India as part of the GOAT Tour, during which Messi will spend three days visiting several of India’s major cities – first Kolkata, then Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
There is no other statue dedicated to Leo Messi of comparable size
West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, who is also the president of the organizing club, pointed out that there is no other statue dedicated to a player of comparable size. Bose recalled that the club paid homage to some of the biggest names in football who visited Calcutta, including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
“This is a 70-foot tall bronze statue. There is no other statue of Messi this big. We built it in 40 days,” Bose told local media.
Organizers explained that although Messi’s arrival is planned as part of a visit to Japan, the inauguration will be held virtually as he cannot be there for safety and security reasons.
Sreebumi Sports Club, the local club that organized the construction, said the purpose of the memorial was to recognize the wide fan base the player maintained in West Bengal, a state with a strong football tradition.
Support for Messi in this region is a well-established phenomenon in Bengal, both on the Indian and Bangladeshi sides, and the Argentine’s football and striker’s popularity has reached a high level, with matches usually drawing large numbers of fans.
During the tour, Messi will unveil a statue and a mural dedicated to him in Kolkata, play a celebrity match in Hyderabad, attend a charity event in Mumbai and hold meetings with authorities and young footballers in various cities, according to a preliminary program released by the organization.
