Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer just Portugal’s pride but a global football icon with a massive fan following across continents. After playing in England, Spain, Italy, and now Saudi Arabia, he has built a loyal fanbase in every country he has represented. Portugal, his homeland, has also honoured him in multiple ways, including the establishment of the CR7 Museum in Madeira. However, an incident involving the statue outside the museum has now drawn attention.
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In 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo inaugurated a museum named after himself in Madeira, Portugal. An 11-foot-tall statue of the footballer was installed in front of the museum. Recently, a video went viral showing a person spraying an unknown substance on Ronaldo’s statue before setting it on fire. The entire incident was captured on video and later shared on social media with the caption, This is the final warning to God.
Statue vandalism and investigation
According to multiple Portuguese media reports, the statue is made of bronze. As a result, the extent of damage caused by the fire is not yet clear. Local authorities have started searching for the individual responsible for the act.
This is not the first time Ronaldo’s statue has been targeted. A similar incident occurred in 2016, when Lionel Messi’s name and jersey number were written on the statue. At that time, Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, had expressed her anger over the act. However, no strict action was taken by the Portuguese government then. Following the latest incident, attention is now on how swiftly the authorities respond.
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Ronaldo’s ties with Madeira
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is constructing a bungalow in Madeira, which is expected to become one of the most expensive residences in Portugal. The construction is nearing completion and is reported to include some of the world’s best facilities. Ronaldo is expected to live there after his retirement from professional football.
