India recently unveiled a 70-foot statue of football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata during his GOAT Tour India. The statue shows Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy and was meant to celebrate his legendary football career and strong fan following in India.
However, soon after its unveiling, the statue became viral on social media for an unexpected reason. Many netizens joked that the statue looks less like Lionel Messi and more like Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Memes, funny comparisons, and edited images flooded platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook, turning the statue into an internet sensation.
Users pointed out the facial features, hairstyle, and overall structure of the statue, saying it did not closely match Messi’s real appearance. Some fans compared side-by-side images of the statue with Shoaib Malik, which further fueled online laughter and debate.
Others defended the artwork, saying large statues often lose facial detail and should be appreciated for the effort and intention behind them.
The statue, made of iron and completed in around 40 days, was installed by a local sports club to honor Messi’s impact on global football. Despite the criticism, it attracted huge crowds and media attention.
Many football lovers visited the site to take photos, while others followed the story online for entertainment.
While the statue may not have perfectly captured Messi’s likeness, it succeeded in creating buzz and excitement. The reactions once again showed how quickly social media turns public moments into viral discussions, mixing sports, humor, and pop culture uniquely.
