After leading Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup, Messi is heading to India for a three-day ‘GOAT Tour’, where the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will unveil a statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday, reports BBC.
Club-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul will accompany him at the tour starting in Kolkata at 11:00 AM BST. The tour will head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi afterwards.
The statue -- standing at a mammoth 70ft and assembled over the course of 27 days by a 45-strong crew -- is just one part of India’s homage to the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward.
Fans can visit ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone where there is a life-sized replica Messi sat on a throne, a hall adorned with some of his trophies and a recreation of his Miami home complete with mannequins of the player and his family sat on a balcony.
In 2016, Messi, who has scored 787 goals in 963 appearances at club level, was also honoured by a bronze statue in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently said they are “working on” a statue at the Nou Camp.
In 2014, long-term rival Ronaldo unveiled a statue of himself at his personal museum in Funchal of the island of Madeira.
Source: The Financial Express
--Agencies
