Lionel Messi will unveil a 21 metre statue of himself in India on Saturday. He will begin a three day visit that has created huge excitement among fans.
The iron statue stands in Kolkata. It shows Messi holding the World Cup. The event is part of a GOAT Tour that will cover four Indian cities. He may also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Messi will unveil the statue online and not in person. Organisers took this step for security reasons. The 38 year old star plays for Argentina and Inter Miami.
A Hola Messi fan zone has opened in Kolkata. It has a life size figure of Messi sitting on a throne. The venue also shows a model of his Miami home. Mannequins of his family members are part of the display.
Main sculptor Monty Paul said the statue took 40 days to build. He said it was a proud moment for him. He added that it is the tallest statue he has made.
During the Kolkata visit, Messi will meet Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly. He will also play a short friendly match in the city.
Before arriving, Messi said he felt honoured to visit India. He said the country holds special memories for him. He recalled his visit 14 years ago and praised the fans. He said India loves football and he looks forward to meeting young supporters.
After Kolkata, Messi will travel to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. In Hyderabad, he will attend a concert held in his honour. He will also play another friendly match there.
Reports say he will meet Modi in New Delhi.
Messi recently won the MLS Most Valuable Player award for the second year in a row. He led Inter Miami to the league title and topped the scoring charts.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain forward will lead Argentina in their World Cup title defence in June and July in North America.
