Authorities in Kolkata are dismantling a 70-foot [1] statue of football legend Lionel Messi due to serious structural safety risks.
The decision highlights a significant failure in engineering and oversight for a high-profile public monument. The removal prevents a potential collapse in a densely populated urban area, though it marks a swift end to a project intended to celebrate global sporting excellence.
The monument is located in the Lake Town area of Kolkata, West Bengal [2]. It was unveiled in December 2025 [3] as a tribute to the Argentine player. However, the celebration was short-lived, as municipal engineers identified critical flaws in the structure early this year.
According to engineering reports, the statue exhibited dangerous instability, swaying during periods of moderate wind [4]. These structural deficiencies posed a direct threat to public safety, prompting the decision to bring the monument down [4].
The financial scale of the project adds to the controversy. The construction of the statue cost Rs 10 crore [5]. The rapid transition from a grand unveiling to a demolition order suggests a lack of rigorous safety auditing during the construction phase.
Kolkata municipal officials said the dismantling process is necessary to ensure the safety of residents, and visitors in Lake Town. The city has not yet announced if the statue will be repaired and relocated or permanently scrapped.
“The 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata’s Lake Town is being dismantled because engineers identified serious structural safety risks.”
The dismantling of the Messi statue reflects a tension between ambitious civic branding and basic infrastructure safety. The high cost of the project combined with its immediate structural failure suggests a potential lapse in the procurement or inspection process, turning a symbol of prestige into a cautionary tale of urban engineering.
