Argentinian legend Diego Maradona helped unveil a statue of himself at a grand Indian reception in Kolkata Argentinian legend Diego Maradona helped unveil a statue of himself at a grand Indian reception in Kolkata

Diego Maradona helped unveil a giant statue of himself during a visit to Kolkata, India, on Monday.

The 57-year-old is a huge hit in Kolkata since his first visit in 2008, and thousands of fans were present at the grand India reception to see one of football's greatest stars honoured in India's second-biggest city.

The 12ft sculpture, which shows the Argentina legend holding the World Cup, was kept behind a curtain for months before its unveiling as Maradona's trip to the city had originally been scheduled for September.

"Thank you very much everybody for coming here. I don't think about myself as God of Football, but only as a simple footballer," he said.

Diego Maradona lifts the trophy after winning the World Cup with Argentina on in June 1986 against West Germany

"But I'm very happy to come here in Kolkata for the second time."

Maradona also gave financial aid to cancer patients on behalf of a private organisation and is expected to feature in a charity football match on Tuesday.

Watch the video above to see Diego Maradona help unveil a huge statue of himself...