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Messi to Unveil 21-meter Statue of Himself on India 'GOAT' Tour

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
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Messi to Unveil 21-meter Statue of Himself on India 'GOAT' Tour

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates his team's fourth goal during the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference final football match between Inter Miami and New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 29, 2025. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)

Lionel Messi will unveil a 21-meter (70-foot) statue of himself in India on Saturday as he embarks on a three-day tour of the country that has sparked a fan frenzy.

The iron sculpture in Kolkata, which shows Messi holding aloft the World Cup, is part of a so-called GOAT Tour that will take in four Indian cities and a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar will unveil the monument virtually rather than in person for security reasons, AFP said.

A "Hola Messi" fan zone has also been set up in Kolkata where on display is a life-sized replica of Messi sat on a throne.

The hall also recreates his Miami home, complete with mannequins of his family members.

Football fan Samir Nandy said it would be "a dream come true" to catch a glimpse of his idol.

"Legends are not made by success alone. It is his resilience that made me believe in him," Nandy, 64, said in Kolkata.

"The statue is a fitting tribute to him."

Monti Paul, the statue's main sculptor, told AFP the structure was built inside 40 days.

"It's a matter of pride to build the sculpture of Messi. It's the tallest statue I have made," he said.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will also meet Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly during his whirlwind trip to Kolkata.

Ahead of his arrival, Messi said it was an honor to visit India and interact with the fans.

"India is a very special country and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago -- the fans were fantastic," Messi said in a statement.

"India is a passionate football nation and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans while sharing the love I have for this beautiful game."

After Kolkata, where Messi will play a short friendly match, he will head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

In Hyderabad he will attend a concert in his honor and play another friendly.

He is reportedly scheduled to meet Modi in the capital.

Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker will spearhead Argentina's defense of the World Cup in June-July in North America.

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Sports

WTA Players Divided on Five-Set Matches Proposal at Grand Slams

Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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WTA Players Divided on Five-Set Matches Proposal at Grand Slams

Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Iga Swiatek of Poland fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Players on the WTA Tour offered a range of opinions on Tuesday on the idea of women's matches becoming best-of-five sets from the quarter-finals onward at Grand Slam events, a concept backed by newly named USTA CEO Craig Tiley.

Women's tennis consists of best-of-three set matches, while men's matches at Grand Slam events are best-of-five.

Tiley, the longtime head of the Australian Open renowned for championing innovation in the sport, has argued that research shows interest grows as a match goes on.

Iga Swiatek, who has won six majors, ‌did not ‌understand why the sport would want to make matches ‌longer ⁠in an era ⁠of ever-shrinking attention spans.

"It's a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster," she told reporters at Indian Wells.

"So I don't know if the audience honestly would like that."

She also voiced concerns that there could be a dip in quality as players get tired.

"I don't know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Men are more physically strong and they ⁠can handle it better," she added.

"Also, we have never ‌practiced in a way to prepare for ‌that, so we would need to change our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would ‌be so tough that I don't think we would have time to ‌prepare for any other tournaments."

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina echoed Swiatek's concerns.

"You start in one format, and then it gets longer, so mentally, to be ready to play so many sets if it goes to that point, I think it's not easy," ‌she said.

"It's a tricky topic, and me, as a player, I would say I wouldn't want to play three ⁠out of five, ⁠to be honest."

Other players said the change would play to their strengths.

"It probably would favor me because I'm physically up there with the best," said Coco Gauff, the winner of three majors.

"But I probably wouldn't want to see that happen, and if it were to happen, I would prefer it to be the whole tournament, not just the quarters.

"I think changing the format in the middle of the tournament defeats the purpose of the playing field."

Power hitter Aryna Sabalenka enthusiastically backed the concept.

"Yeah, let's do that," said the world number one, who has won four Grand Slam events.

"I feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams. I feel like physically I'm really strong, and I'm pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let's do it."

Sports

Alcaraz Ready to Extend Unbeaten Run at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Alcaraz Ready to Extend Unbeaten Run at Indian Wells

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain fields questions on media day during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 03, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

World number one Carlos Alcaraz believes controlling his emotions has been the secret of his unbeaten start to 2026 as he chases a third title of the year at Indian Wells.

The 22-year-old Spanish star made history in Melbourne last month with victory at the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam.

He followed that up by pocketing the Qatar Open and arrives in California on the back of 12 straight wins since the turn of the year.

Alcaraz, who is targeting a third Indian Wells title after wins in 2023 and 2024, says he is not dwelling on Novak Djokovic's record 41-match winning streak from 2011.

"Obviously I know that 41, Novak holds the record," Alcaraz told reporters on Tuesday. "You don't realize how difficult it is until you're chasing that.

"When you're on 12 wins, it's like (winning) four or five more tournaments, the biggest tournaments in the world. You realize...how impressive it is."

Alcaraz, who has already amassed seven Grand Slam titles, puts his recent success down to learning to keep his temperament in check.

"I think on the court I just I control my emotions even better," Alcaraz said.

"I would say that was the key of, you know, the good level of tennis that I have been playing lately...I just control myself, and in a calm place I can find the solutions and I can go through.

"When I was getting mad or when I was playing bad or whatever, I just found the right way again, because I was calm."

Sports

Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
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Piastri Cool on Prospects of Breakthrough Win at Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 20, 2026 McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the pre season testing. (Reuters)

Oscar Piastri has moved to cool expectations of a drought-breaking win at his home Australian Grand Prix, insisting McLaren are not the dominant force that arrived at Albert Park 12 months ago.

After seven race wins last season and a third-placing in the drivers championship, Piastri has generated huge buzz in his hometown Melbourne and is expected to draw record crowds for his bid to become the first home winner since the race joined Formula One in 1985.

McLaren qualified both cars at the front of the grid last year ‌and Lando Norris ‌won the season-opener on a wet track, but Piastri ‌said ⁠he had "no idea" ⁠whether he could win this year as the team grapples with F1's biggest technical overhaul in decades.

"Based off testing, we seem like we’re in the mix at the front," he said.

"I certainly wouldn't be saying that we're favorite to be winning. The picture doesn't look quite as positive for us at the moment as it did 12 months ago.

"We're in the mix, but we need to ⁠find a bit more."

Piastri led last year's championship by ‌34 points before a mid-season slump opened ‌the door for British teammate Norris to claim his maiden title.

He said the disappointment of ‌missing out had faded and he had little time to dwell on ‌the past due to the short off-season and the need to get up to speed with the technical changes.

He also said he felt no extra burden to perform at his home race, a year after finishing ninth following a skid into grass.

"Obviously ‌last year's race didn't end how I wanted, but you know, there's no extra pressure to try and make ⁠up for that ⁠or anything," he said.

"We've got enough challenges to not be worrying about that."

Defending champion Norris may again loom as his toughest adversary, even with pre-season buzz surrounding Mercedes and Ferrari following their positive winter testing.

McLaren gave equal treatment to Piastri and Norris last year, although there were controversies involving the application of the team's so-called 'Papaya Rules'.

One involved the Australian letting Norris past after a botched pitstop by the team at Monza.

Piastri said any issues from last season had been dealt with internally and the team had moved on.

"We're not going to be swapping each other around for no reason (when racing)," he said.

"Again, if there's any issues or tense moments that arise, then we'll deal with it as a team, as we do and try to make some progress."