Lionel Messi to Virtually Unveil 70-Foot Statue at Kolkata’s Lake Town.

Football icon Lionel Messi is set to virtually unveil a 70-foot statue of himself at the Sreebhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, Kolkata, on Saturday, marking the first leg of his GOAT Tour India 2025.

The Argentine legend arrived in Kolkata early Saturday morning to an enthusiastic welcome from fans, with large crowds gathering at several locations across the city to catch a glimpse of the global football star. Messi enjoys a massive following in India, particularly in West Bengal, where football has a deep-rooted fan base.

As a tribute to the footballer, the Sreebhumi Sporting Club has constructed a 70-foot iron statue at Lake Town in South Dum Dum. The statue depicts Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, commemorating Argentina’s historic victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The statue will be unveiled virtually by Messi himself, adding to the significance of the occasion for his supporters. West Bengal minister and president of the Sreebhumi Sporting Club, Sujit Bose, had earlier said the statue was completed in a record 40 days.