On December 13, Lionel Messi visited Kolkata during a trip to India, where he unveiled a massive statue in his honour. Indian media reports say the costly project has triggered significant backlash from netizens across the country.
The 21-metre-high statue, which shows the Argentine football icon holding the World Cup trophy, was unveiled in Kolkata and has drawn large crowds of tourists. While it has generated curiosity, it has also attracted sharp criticism on social media platforms.
One comment read, “A country with over a billion people can’t even find 11 players, let alone train them for the World Cup. I guess building a Messi statue in India would make us famous.”
Another user questioned the purpose of the project, saying, “It’s really strange to do this for someone who’s neither Indian nor connected to India.”
Another critical post stated, “Going to such lengths to build this statue is completely unnecessary.”
Another post read, “Is this for real? Imagine investing in a statue for someone who knows almost nothing about India and idolizing him instead of India’s greatest players—it’s utterly foolish. I mean, he is a legend, but he doesn’t deserve this much resources.”
Other netizens shared similar views. One commented, “Respecting legends is important, but we should focus on developing local talent first.”
Another netizen added, “This money could have changed the fate of many young players.”