When the Portuguese island of Madeira on Wednesday renamed its airport in honor of its hometown hero Cristiano Ronaldo, all eyes were expected to be on the four-time World Footballer of the Year, who is feted not only for his soccer skills but also his physical appearance.
Instead, attention focused on a bronze bust of the player with a toothy grin and narrow, bulging eyes that instantly created a laugh on social media because of the debatable likeness to its subject.
"I defy you not to feel better after viewing this picture of Cristiano Ronaldo alongside his portrait bust," wrote one Twitter user, Tom Sutcliffe.
Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa unveils a plaque during the ceremony to rename Funchal airport as Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Funchal, Portugal March 29, 2017. / Reuters Photo
Another Twitter user deemed the statue "the most gloriously awful bust" of Ronaldo.
The newly revealed statue holds the distinction of being the second bust of the Real Madrid star and occasional model that has been the subject of online ridicule.
Another statue, also in Ronaldo's hometown, was picked apart for what some saw as glaring obscurities and differences in likeness between the player and his bronze counterpart.
An image of Cristiano Ronaldo is seen after the ceremony to rename Funchal airport as Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Funchal, Portugal March 29, 2017. / Reuters Photo
The 32-year-old Real Madrid player's girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, and his mother, Maria, both attended the renaming ceremony of Portugal's Aeroporto da Madeira, now known as Cristiano Ronaldo Airport.
"Many thanks for being here. Seeing my name on this airport is something very special, everyone knows I am proud of my roots and my land," Ronaldo said at a ceremony held at the airport.
"Everyone knows how important it is for me for honors to be made while the person is still alive," he added.
The ceremony was attended by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, and President of the government of Madeira Miguel Albuquerque, as well as Ronaldo's family and friends.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo attends the ceremony to rename Funchal airport as Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Funchal, Portugal March 29, 2017. / Reuters Photo
President Rebelo de Sousa said that the renaming ceremony indicates that regional autonomy can be conjugated with national unity, calling it an "exceptional homage to an exceptional person".
Albuquerque called the footballer a "great Portuguese" and a man who by his talent and hard work surpassed the frontiers of the island to become the best football player in the world.
"He is the best-known Portuguese and is admired on all continents by all generations," he said, adding that despite his fame, Ronaldo has never turned his back on the region or his country and has always helped those who most needed it.
The ceremony took place a day after Ronaldo's Portugal played a friendly match against Sweden in Madeira's capital Funchal, where the Real Madrid ace was born.
(Source: Reuters, Xinhua)
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