Authorities in Madeira are on the lookout for an individual who filmed himself igniting a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo outside the CR7 museum in Funchal. In the bizarre incident, the culprit sprayed the statue with a flammable substance before breaking out into a peculiar dance to rap music. He shared the video on Instagram with the unsettling caption: “This is God’s final warning.” While a suspect has been identified, no arrest has been made yet.
Weird social media antics
A statue of soccer legend Ronaldo became the focal point of a strange act of arson in his hometown. On Tuesday morning, vandals were recorded covering the 11-foot statue with a flammable liquid and setting it ablaze outside the CR7 museum.
The perpetrator documented the incident as the flames consumed the statue, pulling back to dance wildly to loud rap music. The clip concluded with the vandal exhibiting crude gestures towards the statue, including provocative poses. This statue was initially unveiled by Ronaldo himself in 2014.
Creepy message on Instagram
The unusual video was uploaded to Instagram by a user identifying as a “local freestyler,” who accompanied it with a creepy message stating: “This is God’s final warning.”
The post sparked outrage among Ronaldo’s fans, many of whom condemned the act as a misguided plea for attention. While the initial flames were quickly extinguished, it remains uncertain if the statue sustained any lasting damage.
Police zero in on a repeat offender
Funchal officials promptly began an investigation into the incident. A police spokesperson confirmed locally that the individual responsible had been identified, stating he was “known here due to similar occurrences in the past.” However, they have yet to locate him.
A spokesperson from the CR7 Museum conveyed that the police are addressing the issue and declined to make further comments. This is not the first time the statue, famous for its revealing design, has attracted negative attention; it was moved to its current spot in 2016 after being vandalized by fans of Lionel Messi.
The statue’s controversial history
This bronze statue is separate from the notorious airport bust that gained worldwide attention for its questionable resemblance to the soccer star. Following the statue’s initial defacement with Messi’s name in 2016, Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, fiercely criticized the offenders, calling them “savages” and suggesting they should reflect on their lack of respect.
“The act itself is disgraceful, but what’s even worse is the envy that fuels their anger and disrespect in public. As a Portuguese, I feel both ashamed and saddened,” she expressed.
“Those who instigate such negativity should recognize that it’s not only the beautiful sea and welcoming nature of Madeira that earns it accolades but also the deep respect we hold for our culture and roots.”
“It’s unfortunate that our beautiful island has people who are so disaffected that they could flourish in a place where respect is nonexistent.”
Currently, the forward plays in the Saudi Professional League but maintains a strong connection to Madeira. Whether his family will respond to this latest vandalism that targets the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains to be seen.
