A 21-meter statue of Messi will be torn down in India

It was erected almost six months ago during the footballer's visit to the country.

On Monday, local residents filed a complaint with the Public Works Department. They were dissatisfied with the fact that the 21-meter-tall statue was unstable in the wind.

"The statue of the Argentine football legend was deemed unsafe. We noticed that the statue was swaying in the wind," said Sharadwat Mukherjee, a member of the West Bengal State Assembly.

After an inspection, structural flaws were discovered in the monument, which is why the decision was made to dismantle it.

The monument was erected in 27 days last December. It was installed during Messi's tour of the country with Inter Miami players Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The statue depicts the Argentine star hoisting the World Cup trophy in honor of Argentina's victory in 2022.

Authorities are already considering other locations for the monument.