A towering 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi has been erected in Kolkata to mark his three-day “GOAT” tour of India. Constructed from iron over 40 days, the massive figure is reportedly the largest statue of any footballer in the world, standing roughly 13 times Messi’s height.
Leo Messi’s 70 feet tall statue in Kolkata, India! This is incredible! Wow 🇮🇳😱 pic.twitter.com/ukQOCfoxKW
— LEO MESSI FAN ZONE 🇦🇷🐐 (@LeoMessiFanZone) December 12, 2025
The statue is located in Lake Town, South Dum Dum, near a scaled-down replica of London’s Big Ben. Messi is set to attend the official unveiling on Saturday, joined by fellow Argentinians Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. Fans will also be able to visit a “Hola Messi” fan zone featuring an eight-foot version of him seated on a throne, alongside a replica of his Miami home with mannequins of Messi and his family.
The tour includes high-profile events, including a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an appearance at a fashion show. Shops across Kolkata are reportedly selling Argentina jerseys with Messi’s name, and a reported 2,000 police officers will be deployed for security. Wealthy fans can pay approximately £6,122 for a handshake and group photo with the football star.
Messi will also be served a special Bengali meal featuring hilsa, shrimp, potato, and postor, and there are plans to surprise him with traditional Bengali clothing. His visit will extend to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
Creating the statue was a major challenge, requiring cranes and trolley trucks to navigate narrow streets. Sculptor Monti Paul said the face alone took 15 days to complete.
However, fans are not entirely convinced about the likeness. Some claim the statue looks more like Cristiano Ronaldo, while others question, “Who is that?” as anticipation builds ahead of the unveiling.
