Statue of Cristiano Ronaldo set ablaze in Madeira
Authorities in Madeira are searching for a young man who set fire to a bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal on Tuesday morning, reports BritPanorama.
The suspect recorded himself dousing the 11ft effigy of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward with a flammable substance before igniting it with a lighter. The incident was shared on his Instagram account, which has approximately 1,000 followers, alongside the message: “This is God’s last warning.”
The footage revealed the suspect performing an erratic dance to rap music while flames engulfed the statue. At one point, the fire nearly caught his clothing before he momentarily stepped back from the blaze. The video ended with him making crude gestures towards the sculpture, including thrusting his groin at it and raising his middle finger.
Despite initially covering the entire statue, the flames subsided quickly, leaving uncertain whether any lasting damage occurred. PSP police in Funchal confirmed they have identified the perpetrator but have yet to locate and detain him.
Unveiled in late 2014, the bronze statue was part of a ceremonial return to Ronaldo’s home island, where he posed alongside it with his family. Following an earlier incident of vandalism, the artwork was relocated to its current position near the CR7 Museum in March 2016. That act saw Messi supporters daubing the statue with his name after he claimed a fifth Ballon d’Or ahead of Ronaldo.
A police source indicated that the individual responsible is known to authorities from prior similar incidents. A spokesman for the CR7 Museum stated the situation is now with law enforcement, adding, “We have nothing further to add at this stage.”
Following the incident, fans expressed their outrage on social media, with one commenter stating, “I think what you did was unnecessary and all for likes.” Another remarked, “He needs help,” showing the polarized opinions surrounding the controversial act.
In a world where admiration can easily turn to disdain, this incident serves as a stark reminder of football’s polarizing nature, reflecting how deeply intertwined personal sentiment and public figures can become.
