Messi's GOAT Tour: A Tribute in India
Lionel Messi? Cristiano Ronaldo? Pelé? Diego Maradona?
The debate over who is football's greatest player of all time (GOAT) has spanned generations, but India has made its choice.
Fresh from leading Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup victory, Messi is set to embark on a three-day 'GOAT Tour' in India.
Accompanied by teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will unveil a towering statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday.
This impressive statue, which took a dedicated team of 45 workers 27 days to complete, stands at an astonishing 70 feet tall.
The tour will commence in Kolkata at 10:30 AM local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, before proceeding to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
The statue is just one aspect of India’s tribute to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
Fans will have the opportunity to visit the 'Hola Messi' fan zone, which features a life-sized replica of Messi seated on a throne, a hall showcasing some of his trophies, and a recreation of his Miami home complete with mannequins of the player and his family enjoying a balcony view.
Messi, who has netted 787 goals in 963 club appearances, was previously honored with a bronze statue in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2016.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently announced that they are "working on" a statue to be placed at the Nou Camp.
In 2014, Messi's long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled a statue of himself at his personal museum in Funchal, located on the island of Madeira.
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