Kolkata Unveils 70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue Ahead of Virtual Inauguration
A towering 70-foot iron statue of Lionel Messi — claimed to be the largest ever built of the Argentine football legend — has been completed...
A towering 70-foot iron statue of Lionel Messi — claimed to be the largest ever built of the Argentine football legend — has been completed by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, North 24 Parganas. The sculpture depicts Messi triumphantly holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, symbolising Argentina’s historic win in 2022.
The finishing work is now in its final phase, with the surface treatment and surrounding area being prepared ahead of the statue’s formal unveiling.
A Record-Breaking Tribute to a Global Icon
West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose said the scale and speed of the project were unprecedented.
Speaking to reporters, Bose said the 70-foot monument was completed in just 40 days, adding: “There is no other statue of Messi this big in the world. Kolkata has a deep connection with football, and Messi has millions of admirers here.”
The statue has been crafted by a team led by sculptor Monty Paul, known for several large-format installations created for the club’s earlier puja-themed projects.
Club organisers said the idea gained momentum after years of requests from local football fans, who pointed out that Sree Bhumi already hosts a prominent statue of Diego Maradona.
A City With a Long Tradition of Welcoming Football Royalty
Kolkata — often called the football capital of India — has hosted multiple international legends over the past two decades.
Bose recalled visits from Maradona, FIFA World Cup–winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, and Brazilian icon Ronaldinho, underscoring the city’s global footballing ties.
“If Maradona has a statue here, Messi certainly deserves one,” Bose noted.
Virtual Inauguration on December 13
While early reports speculated about Messi travelling to Kolkata, organisers confirmed he will join the ceremony virtually on December 13 due to security and logistical concerns.
They said the digital inauguration had been coordinated through Messi’s representatives, and expressed optimism that fans would still find the moment historic.
The structure, they added, will be fully ready “within the next two days,” and the club plans to open the site to the public shortly after the ceremony.
Timing Aligned With Global Football Calendar
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, club members said the timing of the installation was symbolic — both as a tribute to Messi’s enduring legacy and as an attempt to energise local football enthusiasm.
Bose thanked state authorities for assisting with permissions, infrastructure, and crowd management planning ahead of the inauguration.