When India unveiled a towering statue of football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata, the intention was to honor one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen and celebrate his massive fan following in the country. Standing nearly 70 feet tall, the statue shows Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, symbolizing his historic triumph with Argentina and his global influence on the beautiful game.
However, what was meant to be a proud tribute quickly turned into a viral talking point for an entirely different reason.
Soon after images of the statue surfaced online, social media users began pointing out that the sculpture didn’t quite resemble Lionel Messi. Instead, many joked that the facial features, hairstyle, and overall look appeared closer to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik than the Argentine football superstar. Within hours, platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook were flooded with memes, humorous captions, and side-by-side comparisons that sent the internet into fits of laughter.
The comparisons became increasingly creative, with users playfully debating whether the statue honored football or cricket. Edited photos and witty one-liners added fuel to the viral fire, turning the artwork into an unexpected crossover moment between two sports icons. For many, the resemblance was too uncanny to ignore, making the statue an instant internet sensation.
