Real Madrid and Portugal striker Cristiano Ronado was honoured in an unusual way by his hometown of Madeira, by renaming the island’s airport as the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport’.
The striker said he was ‘happy and honoured’ to have given his name to the airport. “To see this airport bear my name is a very special thing,” said Ronaldo, “Everyone knows I am proud of my roots.” “I didn’t ask for this but I’m not a hypocrite and I acknowledge that it honours me, and that makes me happy,” he added.
Ronaldo already has a museum and bronze statue in his honour in his birth town of Funchal.
Additionaly, a bust of the Euro 2016 winner was also unveiled in the presence of the Portuguese Prime Minister, President and thousands of fans. The bronze bust, however, got all the attention, but for the wrong reasons. With a toothy grin and bulging eyes, the statue looked nothing like the player and soon became a source of great amusement and memes on social media.
When the sculptor ALSO isn't allowed to use his hands. https://t.co/en0iXZxuSb
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) March 30, 2017
when you order online vs when it arrives #RonaldoBust pic.twitter.com/ypitWeon62
— Keith (@ShrillockHolmes) March 29, 2017
When a Lionel Messi fan is commissioned to sculpt a bust of Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/DtSkvcXB02
— Football Rascal (@FootballRascal) March 29, 2017
Damn! People are going in with the Ronaldo statue 😂 pic.twitter.com/7LTIynYn1w
— Barca World (@FCBarcelonaHome) March 30, 2017
RT @nocutcard_: Ronaldo statute look like 2 Face from Batman pic.twitter.com/hNFkdrX7dk
— Trey (@ILL_Wil_) March 29, 2017
The new Ronaldo statue looks exactly like him pic.twitter.com/240RxSvqAt
— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) March 30, 2017
New Ronaldo statue, there pic.twitter.com/DDdtY30vE6
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) March 29, 2017
For a very handsome man, Ronaldo has had some appalling luck with statue-makers pic.twitter.com/M74YEDng4c
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) March 29, 2017
Whenever you get down in life, just remember this statue of @Cristiano and you'll instantly feel better. pic.twitter.com/Ref7ww8lqa
— SOCCER.COM (@soccerdotcom) March 29, 2017
What they promised Brexit would be vs actual Brexit #ronaldo pic.twitter.com/K33ZKEsNbV
— Jono Read (@jonoread) March 29, 2017