A vandal has poured flammable liquid onto a bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo in his hometown of Madeira and set it ablaze, filming the act and posting the footage to social media with a cryptic message.
The incident occurred on Tuesday outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal, the dedicated place to the Portuguese football icon’s career. In the video circulating online, a scruffy young man is seen dousing the 11-foot bronze statue with accelerant before setting it on fire, Daily Mail reported.
As flames engulfed the statue, this person stepped back to avoid the heat and began dancing frantically to rap music playing from a portable speaker. The bizarre clip was subsequently uploaded to his Instagram, which has approximately 1,000 followers, accompanied by the caption: “This is God’s final warning.”
While the fire spread quickly, it died down shortly after, and it remains unclear if the statue suffered permanent damage.
The statue of Cristiano Ronaldo in his hometown in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Photo by AFP |
However, the act has sparked outrage among the public and Ronaldo’s global fanbase. Social media users condemned the arson as “meaningless”, “an insult to the honor of an icon,” and a desperate attempt to get internet fame.
The Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) confirmed they have identified the suspect but have not yet made an arrest. A police source in Funchal noted that the individual “has committed similar acts before.”
The targeted statue is a bronze replica that has stood at the entrance of the CR7 Museum for nearly a decade. The piece, originally notable for its generous physical proportions, used to be the center of controversy. It was previously vandalized with red paint and Lionel Messi’s name in January 2016, shortly after Ronaldo lost the Ballon d’Or race to his Argentine rival.
Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, returned to Madeira with his family for the statue’s unveiling in December 2014, calling it a “very special moment.”
A representative for the CR7 Museum stated that the matter is now in the hands of the authorities and declined further comment.
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