A giant statue of Argentine football star, Lionel Messi erected in the Indian city of Kolkata is set to be removed after authorities raised concerns about its stability and public safety.

The 21-metre golden-coloured sculpture, which depicts Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy, was unveiled in December during the football icon’s GOAT Tour of India.

Officials in West Bengal said engineers discovered that the structure had become unstable and was swaying in strong winds along a busy road in the Lake Town area of Kolkata.

West Bengal lawmaker Sharadwat Mukherjee said the government decided the statue posed a safety risk to motorists and pedestrians.

According to him, workers have begun efforts to secure the structure with ropes while authorities prepare for its removal.

He noted, however, that dismantling the massive monument has proven difficult due to its size and location.

Authorities have yet to announce when the statue will be fully removed or whether it will be relocated to another site.

The monument was erected to celebrate Messi’s global football achievements, including Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Argentina is expected to begin its next World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.

Although Messi has not officially confirmed his participation in the tournament, the Inter Miami forward is widely expected to feature for Argentina in what could become his sixth World Cup appearance, equalling the tournament record.