The long-running debate over football’s greatest player has found a clear answer for many fans in India, where Lionel Messi is being celebrated on an unprecedented scale. Fresh from guiding Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup triumph, the Argentine star arrived in the country for a three-day «GOAT Tour».
Messi will be joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, with the centrepiece of the visit being the unveiling of a towering 70ft statue in Kolkata on Saturday. The structure was built over 27 days by a team of 45 people and ranks among the largest statues ever dedicated to a footballer.
The tour begins in Kolkata at 10:30am local time before moving on to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Beyond the statue, fans will be able to visit the «Hola Messi» fan zone, which features a life-sized figure of Messi seated on a throne, displays of his trophies and a recreation of his Miami home complete with mannequins of the player and his family on a balcony.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 787 goals in 963 club appearances and has previously been honoured with a bronze statue in Buenos Aires in 2016. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also confirmed that plans are under way for a statue at the Nou Camp, while long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled his own statue in Madeira back in 2014.
