Man Sets Fire to Cristiano Ronaldo Statue in Portugal
A statue of Cristiano Ronaldo, a prominent figure in football history, was recently set on fire in Madeira, Portugal. This act, regarded as a vandalism, was captured and shared online by the perpetrator.
Incident Details
The event occurred at the CR7 Museum in Funchal, Madeira, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s statue is prominently displayed. The vandal, a young man, doused the bronze figure with a flammable liquid before igniting it. He filmed the incident and later shared the footage on Instagram, accompanied by an unusual message stating, “This is God’s last warning.”
Reactions and Consequences
Initially, the fire engulfed the statue, but it quickly subsided. Ronaldo’s fans expressed outrage on social media. Comments included critiques of the vandal’s motivations and concerns about his mental state.
- One user stated, “I think what you did was unnecessary and all for likes.”
- Another remarked, “Using God’s name in this kind of action is troubling.”
- A third comment highlighted the need for the vandal to seek help.
Authorities have confirmed that they have identified the individual responsible for the act. The police are actively pursuing him, as he is known for similar previous incidents.
Significance of the Statue
The statue has significant importance to Ronaldo and his fans. Unveiled in 2014 in celebration of his achievements, the statue was relocated to its current site in 2016 following previous acts of vandalism. Ronaldo expressed pride in having a statue dedicated to him, stating, “This is a very special moment.”
Current Status
The CR7 Museum has confirmed that they are cooperating with police investigations. As of now, it remains unclear if the statue sustained permanent damage from the fire.
