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Kolkata Orders Unsafe 21-Meter Messi Statue Removal

5/27/2026

Summary

Messi Removal

Kolkata authorities ordered the 21-meter Lionel Messi statue removed after engineers declared it unsafe.
Engineers inspected the monument on May 25, 2026, finding fiberglass and iron defects that compromised its structural integrity.
Legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee said removal is hard because the statue sits near a busy road and subway, so workers have tied it with heavy-duty nylon ropes and erected barricades.

Summary

Messi Statue

The 21-metre golden-coloured monument was installed as the centerpiece of Messi’s “GOAT Tour” in India in 2026.
Nielsen data released on 2026-05-27 shows football ranks as India’s second-most-favoured sport, trailing only cricket.
India’s national football team is positioned at 142nd in the FIFA world rankings, reflecting modest competitive standing.
Messi’s GOAT Tour featured multiple promotional events across Indian cities, with the Kolkata statue serving as its flagship installation.

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Messi Removal

Kolkata authorities ordered the 21-meter Lionel Messi statue removed after engineers declared it unsafe.
Engineers inspected the monument on May 25, 2026, finding fiberglass and iron defects that compromised its structural integrity.
Legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee said removal is hard because the statue sits near a busy road and subway, so workers have tied it with heavy-duty nylon ropes and erected barricades.

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