Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Holly Bishop

70ft Lionel Messi statue taken down due to safety fears months after unveiling

Lionel Messi India

A 70ft Lionel Messi statue erected in India has been taken down just months later due to safety concerns.

In December 2025, the giant monument was installed in Kolkata, West Bengal during the footballer’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT) tour of the country.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
11 Vintage Vogue Covers That Captured The Golden Age Of Fashion Illustration, As Shared By This Page
Before the camera took over, Vogue’s covers were painted by hand, and Dalí was among the artists who made them. Peacocks, palm trees and Art Deco zigzags turned the magazine into a gallery of illustration for decades.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Eminem Reportedly Risks 'Irreparable Reputational Damage' After Kid Rock Collaboration Draws Fan Disappointment
Eminem has faced criticism for appearing on Kid Rock's Christian album, with commenters and Salon questioning the reputational risks of the collaboration amid political differences.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Selena Gomez Says Vaping Changed Her Voice, and Voice Specialists Explain How Hot, Dry Vapor Strains Vocal Folds
Selena Gomez says vaping changed her voice. An NYU specialist explains how vapor dries the vocal folds and when hoarseness needs a checkup.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Woman Shares How Weird, Creepy And Ridiculous Her MIL Is, Her Husband Keeps Making Excuses
She gave her MIL three chances during one hospital stay. Her MIL used all three to make a medicated, exhausted new mother feel judged, interrupted, and unwelcome in her own recovery room. Now she is expecting an invite back, but the internet has something to say. Read the full article…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Why do diets fail despite your best efforts? How expert nutrition support can help
Most diets fail not because of weak willpower but because generic plans ignore your food, routine and health needs, then leave you alone when cravings hit. Discover why personalised, expert-led support built around home cooking works better, and how a plan that fits your life makes healthy eating easier to…
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Law Roach 'couldn’t get the energy right' with Keke Palmer
Law Roach has reflected on his experience of working with Keke Palmer.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play