Kolkata's 70-Foot Messi Statue Torn Down After Engineers Declare It a Safety Hazard

By CM NEWS | June 2, 2026

A towering 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, has been taken down after local authorities declared it structurally unsafe, less than six months after its grand unveiling. The fibreglass and iron structure, installed in the Lake Town area during Messi's December 2025 India tour, had reportedly been observed swaying in strong winds [SportsCafe] , alarming residents and prompting an urgent engineering review. State lawmaker Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed that government engineers had officially determined the statue was structurally unsound, noting that the monument visibly moved in heavy winds. [World Soccer Talk] No official announcement has been made regarding its permanent relocation.

Key Facts

Who: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF forward and 2022 FIFA World Cup winner; West Bengal state government

What: A 70-foot public statue declared unsafe and removed

When: Removed Monday, June 2026; originally unveiled December 13, 2025

Where: Lake Town, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

• Why: Structural integrity severely compromised; statue observed swaying in wind

A Monument Born in Fanfare

On December 13, 2025, a 70-foot statue of Messi was unveiled at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, Kolkata, depicting the Argentine icon holding the FIFA World Cup trophy. [Wikipedia] The towering iron monument was completed in just 40 days as a tribute to the football legend, with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan joining fans to celebrate the occasion. [gulfnews]

Artist Monty Paul and his team reportedly completed the fiberglass statue within that compressed timeframe. [NewsX] The event was part of Messi's "GOAT India Tour" — GOAT standing for Greatest of All Time — which also saw him travel to Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul. [Outlook India]

The statue quickly became a popular attraction, drawing football fans from across Kolkata and beyond. West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose stated at the time that Messi and his team were pleased with the monument, calling it an inspiration to football lovers across the region. [gulfnews]

Swaying in the Wind — and Then Coming Down

The monument's troubles became public when reports emerged of the structure visibly moving during periods of strong wind. Authorities secured the statue with nylon ropes and barricades while officials considered relocating the tribute to a safer location. [SportsCafe] Those temporary measures were ultimately deemed insufficient.

Because the giant monument is situated in a heavily congested, bustling downtown area, authorities determined its continued presence posed an unacceptable public safety risk. [World Soccer Talk] The order for immediate removal and relocation followed swiftly after the inspection.

Reports indicate that the West Bengal government is working to identify an alternate location to re-install the statue — one that provides better structural support, greater visibility, and improved safety for visitors. [NewsX] No timeline or confirmed site has been announced publicly.

Background: A Tour Shadowed by Controversy

The removal of the statue adds a new chapter to what was already a turbulent visit for the football icon. The safety issues surrounding the monument follow what was an incredibly volatile tour of India for the Inter Miami superstar. [World Soccer Talk]

On the night of the unveiling, thousands of fans packed into Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium hoping to witness Messi in person. Security breaches allowed pitch invaders to bypass barriers, and Messi's personal security team made the swift decision to evacuate him from the venue. [Al Jazeera] West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described herself as "disturbed" and "shocked" at the mismanagement, publicly apologising to both Messi and his fans, and ordering an investigation. [Al Jazeera]

The event's chief organiser was subsequently arrested, and authorities indicated they would investigate how ticket refunds could be issued to those who had paid to attend. [Al Jazeera]

The statue itself was not without its critics even before safety concerns arose. The installation became a talking point on social media after many observers claimed its facial features bore little resemblance to Messi, with some jokingly suggesting it looked similar to a Bollywood actor. [Outlook India]

Analysis: Bigger Questions About Public Monuments

The Messi statue removal has reignited debate about the standards and design approvals required for large public structures in Kolkata. The incident follows the earlier removal of another football-centric sculpture from the Salt Lake area, raising broader questions about structural audits, planning permissions, and ongoing maintenance of major civic landmarks. [NewsX]

The speed of the statue's construction — completed in just 40 days — is being scrutinised in the wake of the structural failure. Urban planners and civic activists have pointed to the episode as evidence that the processes governing large public installations need to be strengthened, particularly when structures are erected in densely populated areas under political and event-related time pressure.

The political dimension is also significant. The project had been closely associated with former minister Sujit Bose, who played a key role in ensuring the statue was erected in that location. [Outlook India](https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/football/lionel-messi-70-foot-statue-safety-concerns-kolkata-pwd-authorities-statement) With a change in the West Bengal government, the new administration has vowed to act, with one official describing Messi's Kolkata chapter as an embarrassment and calling the statue "ugly and grotesque." [Outlook India](

What Happens Next

West Bengal authorities have not yet confirmed a new site for the statue, though officials have indicated the structure will be preserved rather than permanently destroyed. The statue's fate — whether it is eventually re-installed in a more suitable public location or consigned to storage — is likely to remain a politically charged question in the state.

Meanwhile, the episode has put scrutiny on the broader planning framework for large civic monuments across India, and whether fast-tracked tributes to global celebrities require the same rigorous structural oversight as permanent public infrastructure.

Conclusion

What began as one of Kolkata's most ambitious tributes to a global sporting icon has ended in an undignified, if necessary, dismantling. The 70-foot Messi statue, unveiled with fanfare and celebrity attendance just months ago, could not withstand the basic test of structural safety. As authorities search for a more suitable home for the monument, the episode serves as a broader cautionary tale about the rush to honour sports legends through large, hastily constructed public works — and the importance of engineering rigour over spectacle.