Messi’s 70-Foot Statue Set for Inauguration in Kolkata

KATHMANDU. A gigantic 70-foot-tall iron statue of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi has been completed in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. This statue of Messi, said to be the largest of its kind to date, was built by the Shree Bhumi Sporting Club in the Lake Town area of South Dumdum.

The statue depicts Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, and the club has stated that the final layer of finishing work is currently underway. The team, led by Monty Paul, is working on the finishing touches, which include the external decoration and final preparation of the statue.

According to Sujit Bose, President of the Shree Bhumi Sporting Club and a Minister in the Government of West Bengal, the construction of the statue was completed in just 40 days. Bose stated, "This is a very large statue, 70 feet tall. There is no other Messi statue of this height anywhere in the world. Messi is coming to Kolkata. He has many fans here."

He mentioned that football legends like Maradona, Emiliano Martínez, and Ronaldinho have previously visited Kolkata, and this tradition of Shree Bhumi has continued. He added that the inspiration to build Messi's statue came after the construction of Maradona's statue. Referring to the upcoming 2026 World Cup, he noted that this statue is considered special, and he believes Messi himself will like it.

Bose explained that the statue will be virtually inaugurated on December 13, as Messi will not be able to attend in person due to security reasons. Local football fans have expressed great excitement about being able to see Messi's statue and the news that Messi will participate virtually. One fan said, "Just hearing that Messi is coming here is a huge deal. This statue is our pride."