Making sport stars into statues

During Lionel Messi's tour of India last year, he witnessed the unveiling of a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. It's reportedly the biggest-ever statue of an athlete - but does that make it any better? Why are sculptures such a popular choice for honouring sporting greats, and what gives them their power?

Back in January of this year, More than the Score's Lee James talked to two people who know plenty about sport and statues.

Tom Murphy's sculptures have become a huge part of Liverpool's cultural identity. They can be seen everywhere from the city's John Lennon Airport to Anfield and Goodison Park, where he's created memorials to Liverpool and Everton legends Bill Shankly and Dixie Dean. He talks us through the process of creating his artworks, from commissioning to sculpting, and why small details and decisions you might not notice at first glance help to convey the soul of his subjects.

Art critic and Tottenham Hotspur fan Eddy Frankel discusses how clubs and sporting institutions use artworks to build a sense of identity and history, and to forge connections with their fans. He also explains why statues have extra power when they convey a sense of movement - and sticks up for a much-maligned effigy of Cristiano Ronaldo.

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