Cristiano Ronaldo has airport named in his honor... but bust breaks internet

Published time: 29 Mar, 2017 13:11 Edited time: 29 Mar, 2017 13:40

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has had the airport in his native Madeira Islands named after him – although much of the social media attention focused on the bizarre bust of the Real Madrid striker unveiled at the ceremony.

Ronaldo attended the ceremony at the newly-renamed Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday, along with the Portuguese president and prime minister.

The football star, 32, who already has a museum and a hotel named after him on the island, as well as a statue, described his pride at seeing the local airport now bear his name.

“You know how proud I am of my roots, my homeland,” Ronaldo said in a speech at the ceremony.

But rather than lauding Portugal’s captain and record goalscorer, social media users were quick to question whether the bust of the striker unveiled at the airport was such a good likeness.

This Cristiano Ronaldo statue at the newly named Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Madeira is absolutely dreadful. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/e7LhzUpdod
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) 29 March 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo Airport Statue looks decent pic.twitter.com/RFmjTTpK4P
— lew (@Iewiswain) 29 March 2017

Someone looked at this and saw Cristiano Ronaldo. So it is displayed on the new Cristiano Ronaldo Airport. pic.twitter.com/4FwpzLOy3Y
— João Moreira Pires (@JoaoGoncaloMP) 29 March 2017

That new Ronaldo statue is amazing. Incredible likeness. pic.twitter.com/lXLPsfQnvH
— John Sheehan (@johnsportraits) 29 March 2017

Madeira Islands airport unveils Cristiano Ronaldo bust and they totally nailed it. https://t.co/0qmBZuciiz pic.twitter.com/7BrKKYKoaV
— theScore (@theScore) 29 March 2017

Some mocked Ronaldo’s rivalry with Barcelona star Lionel Messi:

Breaking: The sculptor behind the Cristiano Ronaldo bust has been revealed! pic.twitter.com/aogh26uRww
— Soccer Manager (@SoccerManager) 29 March 2017