CALCUTTA.- A giant statue of the ball star Lionel Messierected in India to commemorate the Argentine’s visit last year, is “swaying in the wind”, so it will be removed, an official from the AFP told AFP on Wednesday. Calcutta.
The instability of the statue, 21 meters and gold in color that shows Messi raising the World Cuphas forced her to be held on the ground with ropes.
The statue was inaugurated during Messi’s so-called “GOAT Tour” of India last December.
The state legislator of West Bengal, Sharadwat Mukherjeeadmitted to AFP that the statue is not safe: “We have observed that the statue sways in the wind.”
This Wednesday, some workers tied ropes to the statue to prevent it from falling onto a busy road.
“Removing it is easier said than done,” said Mukherjee, who did not say whether the statue would be moved to another location considered safer.
Neymar’s Santos advances
He Saintswithout Neymarqualified for the playoffs to access the round of 16 of the South American Cup 2026 by beating 3-0 on Tuesday at Deportivo Cuenca and finish in second place in group D.
With the victory, their first in the series, “Ney’s” team finished second with 7 points like San Lorenzo de Almagroalthough with a better balance of goals.
The surprising Recoleta Paraguayan took first place in the bracket, and the direct ticket to the round of 16, by beating the Cyclone by 1-0 in Buenos Aires this Tuesday and finish with eight points, while the Ecuadorian Cuenca finished last with 6 points.
With no chance of finishing first, Santos only needed victory to seek second place, against a Deportivo Cuenca that dreamed of direct qualification.
With the injured Neymar and Rodrygo Attending the match together from a private box at the Vila Belmiro stadium, the locals were far superior from the first minute against a very innocent Ecuadorian team.
“I think today we managed to play well, score goals and win, which in the end is the most important thing. We had to score and not concede, today everyone was very happy, we didn’t concede, Brazao saved a penalty at the end that crowned it,” explained Gabigol.
