Police Hunt Vandal Who Set Fire to Cristiano Ronaldo Statue in Madeira
Authorities on the Portuguese island of Madeira are searching for a young man who filmed himself setting alight a bronze statue of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The vandal posted footage of the bizarre stunt to his Instagram account, where he identifies as zaino.tcc.filipe and describes himself as a 'person, freestyler and local man.'
Bizarre Footage Captures Deliberate Act of Vandalism
The dishevelled-looking individual recorded himself pouring a flammable liquid over the 11-foot bronze replica, located outside the CR7 Museum in the capital Funchal, before igniting it with a lighter. As flames engulfed the sculpture—nearly catching his own clothing—the vandal performed a strange dance to rap music from a portable speaker. He accompanied the video with an enigmatic message: 'This is God's last warning.'
Although the fire initially took hold, it quickly died down. It remains unclear whether the statue, which has a notorious history of vandalism, sustained permanent damage. The sculpture, famous for its exaggerated anatomical features, was moved to its current location in March 2016 after being defaced by Lionel Messi fans.
Outrage from Fans and Swift Police Response
Ronaldo supporters and critics swiftly condemned the act on social media. One Instagram user commented, 'Do you think it's good what you've done! I think what you did was unnecessary and all for likes.' Another wrote, 'Using God's name in this kind of action, I just hope there won't be any retaliation from Him.' A third simply stated, 'He needs help.'
The Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) in Funchal confirmed they have identified the suspect, who is known to them from previous incidents. A police source told local media, 'The author of this crime has been identified. He is known here because of similar earlier situations.' The CR7 Museum acknowledged the incident is being handled by authorities, adding they have 'nothing further to add at this stage.'
A History of Controversial Statues and Past Vandalism
This is not the first time a Ronaldo effigy in Madeira has attracted controversy. The current museum statue was unveiled in December 2014, with Ronaldo present alongside his family. He remarked at the time, 'This is a very special moment, to have a statue of me.' However, it immediately drew mockery for its disproportionate physique and perceived lack of resemblance.
In 2016, Messi fans vandalised it by painting the Argentine's name and number 10 on it, coinciding with Messi winning a historic fifth Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo's sister, Katia Aveiro, reacted furiously on Facebook, calling the perpetrators 'frustrated savages' who deserved to be sent to Syria.
Another infamous bust at Madeira Airport, created by Spanish artist Carlos Garcia, replaced an earlier widely mocked sculpture by local artist Emanuel Santos. That original 2017 airport bust was ridiculed globally, with critics joking the artist must have drunk too much Madeiran wine during its creation.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, remains one of football's most iconic figures. This latest act of vandalism underscores the intense, and sometimes destructive, passions he continues to inspire both in his homeland and worldwide.
