Who stands at the pinnacle of football greatness? Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, or Diego Maradona? The quest to determine the greatest of all time (GOAT) in football has spanned generations—and now, India has made its choice.
After leading Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup, Messi is set to embark on a three-day ‘GOAT Tour’ in India.
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Accompanied by his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will unveil a towering 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata this Saturday. The statue, crafted by a dedicated crew of 45 over 27 days, marks another milestone in Messi’s illustrious career.
The tour kicks off in Kolkata at 10:30 AM local time (05:00 GMT), before proceeding to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
A life-sized Messi seated on a throne is one of the attractions at the ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone [Getty Images]
The statue is just one part of India’s tribute to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star. Fans can explore the ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone, featuring a life-sized replica of Messi on a throne, a hall adorned with his trophies, and a model of his Miami home complete with mannequins of Messi and his family on a balcony.
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“He (Lionel Messi) would be amazed by the arrangements for him,” said Messi enthusiast Shiladitya Banerjee. “He would be stunned to see how revered he is in Kolkata and throughout India. I’m emotional, but these are tears of joy.”
Messi, a phenomenal goal-scorer with 787 goals in 963 club appearances, was previously honored with a bronze statue in Buenos Aires, Argentina, back in 2016.
Recently, the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, mentioned that they are “working on” a statue to be erected at the Nou Camp.
In 2014, Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled a statue of himself at his personal museum on the island of Madeira.
Ronaldo’s personal museum features memorabilia and awards from his career [EPA]