Kolkata all set to welcome Messi with 70-foot statue

VIDEO SHOWS: 70-FOOT TALL STATUE OF ARGENTINE SOCCER PLAYER LIONEL MESSI; REPLICA OF MESSI'S INTER MIAMI HOME; REPLICAS OF TROPHIES WON BY MESSI; SOUNDBITES OF MESSI FANS SHOWS: KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (DECEMBER 10, 2025) (ANI – No use India) (NIGHT SHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF FAN SPORTING MESSI JERSEY TAKING PICTURE OF 70-FOOT TALL STATUE OF MESSI 2. VARIOUS OF STATUE OF MESSI HOLDING WORLD CUP TROPHY 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FAN, SHILADITYA BANERJEE, SAYING: "He (Lionel Messi) would be surprised to see the arrangements made for him. He would be shocked to see how he is worshipped in Kolkata and across India. I am tearing up but these are happy tears. We'll do anything to see god." 4. GATE WITH MESSI POSTERS 5. POSTER OF MESSI WITH WORLD CUP 6. REPLICA OF MESSI'S INTER MIAMI HOME 7. POSTER OF MESSI KISSING WORLD CUP 8. FOOTBALL BALLOONS REPRESENTING EACH GOAL MESSI SCORED HANGING 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FOUNDER SECRETARY, ARGENTINA FOOTBALL FAN CLUB KOLKATA, UTTAM SAHA, SAYING: "He has scored 896 goals and these footballs represent that. We have set up these LED screens because we don't enjoy watching Messi on a small screen or television at home." 10. REPLICA OF TROPHIES WON BY MESSI INCLUDING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, LA LIGA, COPA AMERICA 11. STATUE OF MESSI SITTING ON CHAIR 12. STATUE OF MESSI KICKING BALL 13. VARIOUS OF REPLICA OF GOLDEN BOOT TROPHIES WON BY MESSI 14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FOUNDER SECRETARY, ARGENTINA FOOTBALL FAN CLUB KOLKATA, UTTAM SAHA, SAYING: "I am proud to say that I was there when Messi played in the World Cup (final) against Germany and I was also there when he won the World Cup. I have seen Messi play live 29 times." 15. WORLD CUP TROPHY REPLICAS STORY: Die-hard fans of Lionel Messi have installed a 70-foot tall iron statue of the Argentine football legend in eastern Kolkata city ahead of his India tour. The statue shows the seven-time Ballon D'or winner holding the World Cup trophy which he won in 2022. Organisers are putting final touches to the statue, and it will be unveiled when Messi visits Kolkata on October 13 (Saturday). As part of the grand welcome, Argentina Football Fan Club Kolkata has created a replica of Messi's Inter Miami home with life-size cutouts and statues of Messi and his family. Fans also could get a glimpse of the trophies won by Messi including the Champions League, La Liga and the World Cup. Kolkata's iconic Salt Lake Stadium would play host to Messi where he will share the field with India cricket legend Sourav Ganguly and football virtuoso Bhaichung Bhutia. Apart from Kolkata, Messi will visit Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad during his four-city tour. (Production: Suramya Kaushik)

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