Kolkata, June 1 -- A 70-foot statue of legendary footballer Lionel Messi, which was installed along VIP Road in Kolkata's Lake Town area, was removed after residents raised concerns over its stability, saying the structure was swaying in strong winds on Monday.

The 70-foot statue of Messi was built last year in December ahead of the FIFA World Cup-winning superstar's 'GOAT Tour' to India, which features Messi holding the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy and was constructed by fans as a tribute to the football icon.

Messi visited the country last year across four stops, West Bengal, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, his Inter Miami teammates.

However, there were complaints from local residents to the Pub...