It was supposed to be an honour befitting of an “example of excellence”, the four-time footballer of the year who led Portugal to victory in last year’s European Championship.
Instead, the bronze bust commemorating Cristiano Ronaldo’s new namesake airport attracted widespread derision, being likened to Sloth from The Goonies or lauded as an Ecce Homo moment. Even former Irish footballer Niall Quinn was, perhaps rather unkindly, drawn into the debate.
This most recent honour was bestowed on Ronaldo by Portugal’s president and prime minister at a ceremony on Wednesday. It saw the international airport in Ronaldo’s homeland Madeira renamed Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old footballer already has a statue, a museum and a hotel named after him on the island.
Ronaldo tweeted that he was “happy and honoured” and “proud” to lend his name to the airport, complete with some illustrative thumbs-up, OK-sign and plane emojis. He also shared a clip of himself on his jet, celebrating his pilot’s reference over the intercom to “Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo”.
I don't what you're all talking about, that #RonaldoBust looks fine pic.twitter.com/QefUPwYkpf
— Wes Mountain (@therevmountain) March 29, 2017
But Ronaldo has thus far been silent on the online reaction to the bust in his – sort of, if you turn your head and squint a bit – likeness unveiled at the terminal’s entrance. Many social media users have suggested it does not bear much resemblance to the Real Madrid striker, sharing their observations in their masses to the hashtag #RonaldoBust.
To the makers of the sculpture - #YouHadOneJob #RonaldoBust pic.twitter.com/oooRxDuI4t
— Fahad Shahud (@fahadism) March 30, 2017
Some of the all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo moments pic.twitter.com/57Tx9VhbUm
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 29, 2017
all the content is bad besides this pic.twitter.com/ZUA5bzqpQ4
— Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) March 29, 2017
Others delighted in finding figures that the bust better resembled, including Sloth from The Goonies, Kryten from Red Dwarf, and the botched Ecce Homo restoration.
I don't see what the problem is with Cristiano Ronaldo's statue...#Ronaldo #Statue #Ronaldobust pic.twitter.com/a9UUbhTIFi
— Tom Wright (@TomWright89) March 29, 2017
uncanny pic.twitter.com/Ul15VHJgxK
— Jon Kudelka (@jonkudelka) March 30, 2017
And even his retirement from football more than a decade ago could not save Quinn from repeated comparisons.
Respect to Ronaldo for attending the unveiling of the new Niall Quinn statue today. pic.twitter.com/E1Z57T7kP8
— Zeo Fondue (@newsfondue) March 29, 2017
Some floated conspiracy theories based on Ronaldo’s football rivalries.
Wondering how happy & satisfied Messi fans would be after seeing #RonaldoBust pic.twitter.com/RZJKbIzvNm
— Fahad Shahud (@fahadism) March 30, 2017
Forget what you've read anywhere. This is an effigy created by a Barca fan. #ronaldobust pic.twitter.com/d4DsmCvfM4
— Nyfa (@Kotokovski) March 29, 2017
Others were just grateful for the fleeting moment of joy.
THANK YOU!!!!!! to the people involved in the @Cristiano statue. i love you more than anything ever #ronaldobust #ronaldostatue
— cameron merrill (@CameroneMerrill) March 30, 2017
Making #brexitday a little less depressing. Just a tiny little bit. #RonaldoBust pic.twitter.com/ecZ8QXL8CU
— Lindsay Emerson (@Lindol_Emerson) March 29, 2017
