Sani Ali K/Mata
A bronze statue honoring football legend Cristiano Ronaldo in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira, has been deliberately set on fire in a bizarre online stunt.
According to The Mirror, Portuguese police have begun searching for the vandal, who filmed himself committing the act outside the CR7 Museum and posted the footage to his Instagram account, where he identifies himself as ‘zaino.tcc.filipe’.
The video shows a disheveled young man pouring a flammable liquid over the life-sized statue before igniting it. As flames engulfed the sculpture and nearly caught his own clothing, the individual performed a dance to rap music played from a portable speaker he had brought.
Alongside the video, he posted an cryptic message: “This is God’s last warning.” The statue, which had been moved to its current location in March 2016 after previous vandalism by Lionel Messi fans, did not appear to suffer permanent damage as the flames quickly subsided.
The act has sparked widespread condemnation online, particularly from Ronaldo’s supporters who expressed their fury in the comments of the perpetrator’s Instagram post. Critics called the stunt “unnecessary and all for likes,” with one follower stating they had unfollowed him for using “God’s name in this kind of action.”
Local police in Funchal confirmed they have identified the individual, who is reportedly known for similar past incidents, but had not yet apprehended him at the time of reporting.
The report confirms that a spokesman for the CR7 Museum stated the matter was in the hands of the police and declined further comment. The statue holds significant sentimental value; Ronaldo himself attended its unveiling in 2014 with his family, calling it “a very special moment.”
The incident represents another act of defacement against a public monument dedicated to one of Portugal’s most celebrated athletes.
