'Swaying in the wind': Kolkata's giant 70-foot Lionel Messi statue faces removal just five months after installation

A towering 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata is set to be removed after engineers deemed the structure unsafe amid reports it was swaying in strong winds. Installed following Messi’s 2025 India visit, the monument quickly became both a symbol of Argentina’s immense popularity in Bengal and a source of controversy, with safety concerns, crowd disorder and political disputes now overshadowing the tribute.