KOLKATA, Dec 13— Lionel Messi unveiled a 70-foot statue in Kolkata on Saturday, celebrating his 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025, officials said.
The Argentine football legend joined the ceremony virtually from the Hyatt Regency hotel, while thousands of fans gathered at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town to witness the event. The statue depicts Messi holding the World Cup trophy and was completed in 40 days.
“Messi and his team had approved the design and were pleased with the statue,” West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose, also Sree Bhumi Sporting Club president, told ANI.
Messi arrived in the ‘City of Joy’ early Saturday morning, receiving an overwhelming reception from supporters across key locations in Kolkata. The visit marks his first trip to India since 2011, when he played a friendly against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium.
The celebrations also included interactions with local celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, whose son AbRam clicked pictures with Messi and his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrygo de Paul, creating lasting memories for fans and the superstar alike.
