A towering golden statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata is set to be taken down after government engineers declared it unsafe.
The 21-metre sculpture, which overlooks a busy road in the Lake Town area along VIP Road, has been spotted swaying alarmingly in strong winds.
Workers have been scrambling up the massive structure, throwing ropes around its shoulders in a bid to keep it stable.
Local residents raised the alarm after noticing the statue moving noticeably during windy conditions, sparking fears it could topple over.
A giant statue of Lionel Messi is set to be taken down just months after it was erected in Kolkata
|GETTY
The Public Works Department stepped in, reinforcing the installation with ropes as an emergency safety measure while removal plans are drawn up.
The striking sculpture depicts the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami star holding aloft the World Cup trophy, a fitting tribute to his legendary status in the sport.
It was unveiled with great fanfare during Messi's so-called GOAT Tour of India back in December, quickly becoming a beloved attraction for football fans across the city.
The golden-coloured monument was meant to celebrate Kolkata's deep admiration for the footballing icon, drawing visitors from all over.
But just five months on, the celebration has turned to concern.
What was once a proud landmark now looms precariously over the bustling road below, with locals questioning whether proper structural checks were ever carried out.
The statue was erected to commemorate Lionel Messi's visit last December
| GETTYWest Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed to AFP that engineers had found the statue unsafe.
"We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind," he said.
Getting rid of it won't be straightforward, though.
"Removal has proved easier said than done," Mukherjee admitted. "We are planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity."
He couldn't say exactly when it would come down, nor whether it might be put up somewhere else.
Meanwhile, Messi himself is expected to feature in Argentina's World Cup defence, with the team kicking off against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.
Football remains India's second favourite sport, according to Nielsen research released today.