Authorities dismantled the 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata’s Lake Town after inspections revealed structural instability following recent storms.
June 1, 2026: A massive 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi was removed from Lake Town in Kolkata on Monday after officials found it had become structurally unsafe. The Public Works Department (PWD) used a hydraulic crane to carefully dismantle the monument and transport it on a truck. Authorities said the operation was completed without causing damage to the structure.
The statue will remain in PWD custody until a decision is made regarding its future location. Local reports suggest it could be reinstalled at either Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park, subject to government approval. The move followed complaints from residents who reported that the statue appeared to sway during strong winds. Inspections later revealed defects in its foundation bolts, raising fears of a possible collapse.
The statue was virtually unveiled by Messi in December 2025 and featured an eight-foot replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy. The project was conceptualised by Sujit Bose and created by noted sculptor Monti Paul. Earlier this year, the Calcutta High Court sought a report from the state government regarding whether the Messi and Diego Maradona statues in Lake Town had been erected on government land in violation of regulations.