India to honour Messi with a statue | OneFootball

In Kolkata, devotion to Lionel Messi has taken on form, volume, and excess: 21 meters tall, made of iron and fiberglass, with 45 people working from dawn to dusk to bring to life the largest statue ever dedicated to the Rosario-born star. An extraordinary tribute that not even Argentina imagined, and which India is about to unveil.

On Saturday, when the GOAT Tour begins, it will be Messi himself who unveils the work. He will be accompanied by Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, on a tour that will visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, amid the frenzy that erupted after Inter Miami’s MLS title.

The sculpture, directed by artist Monti Paul, immortalizes an eternal image: Messi lifting the World Cup with his right hand. A scene that, on a giant scale, will serve as a beacon on a street where the statue of Diego Maradona already stands. That one, just three meters tall, was once criticized for its lack of resemblance. This one, on the other hand, aims for impact: it wants to be unforgettable.

The tribute doesn’t end there. In the “Hola Messi” fan zone, fans will be able to take photos with a life-size replica of number 10 sitting on a throne, as well as a mural that completes the football ritual.

The visit will also include the GOAT Cup in Hyderabad, a 7 vs. 7 celebrity match, a concert, and an interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In addition, Messi will take part in a recognition ceremony for the youth team of the Minerva Academy, the country’s recent pride after winning European tournaments such as the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup, and Norway Cup.

This will be Messi’s second appearance in India; the first was in 2011 with the national team, but this time something different awaits him: a country that has decided to immortalize him on a colossal scale, almost as if it needed to raise a mountain to match his stature.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.