Lionel Messi statue in Kolkata, found to be structurally unstable, removed over safety concerns
Authorities in Kolkata have removed a 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi due to structural instability concerns following a recent storm. The statue, installed by the previous administration, was dismantled by the current BJP-led government amid broader political controversy.
Why it matters
The removal serves as a symbol of the shifting political landscape in West Bengal, where new administrations are dismantling projects associated with their predecessors.
A 70-ft.-high statue of Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi, installed by the previous Trinamool Congress government in 2025 in Kolkata’s Lake Town area, was on Monday (June 1, 2026) removed by the State’s Public Works Department (PWD).
The article reports on the physical removal of the statue while providing context on the political rivalry behind the decision.
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