Highly criticized statue of Ronaldo replaced with a new one day he scored hat-trick against Spain

macfranc007 June 18, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Akan Anwankwo

- Cristiano Ronaldo's statue has been replaced at the Madeira airport

- The work of art was heavily criticized when it was first unveiled last year March

- The new sculpture was launched the day Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain

A statue of Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, that was widely mocked after it was made has been replaced.

The bronze bust of the Real Madrid talisman went viral with people questioning its resemblance to Ronaldo, after it was placed on display at Madeira airport last year.

Some compared its likeness to ex-Republic of Ireland captain, Niall Quinn, yet sculptor Emanuel Santos said his work was just "a matter of taste".

Mocked Ronaldo's sculptor replaced with a new one at Madeira airport

Ronaldo's new statue on the right and old one on the right. Photo Credit: BBC/EPA

And now, the airport has replaced his original effort with a bust that boasts a greater likeness to Ronaldo.

According to Madeira Island News, Ronaldo's family asked for the work to be replaced through the CR7 Museum, which is based on the Portuguese island.

The work of art on was changed the same day Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Spain in Portugal's World Cup opener in Russia.

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But the replacement has not gone down well with everyone and a petition has been started to bring the old sculpture back.

"The bust is more an attraction for our island today and we can not accept in any way its replacement," the petition says.

The original statue was unveiled in March last year at a ceremony to name Madeira's airport after the Portuguese superstar, who is a local hero on the island for what is seen as his rags-to-riches success.

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Santos later had a second attempt to silence his critics with a second sculpture of Ronaldo, commissioned by news media website, Bleacher Report.

Ronaldo will be looking to add to his tally when they come up against Morocco in their second Group B match.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the Portugal international scored a hat-trick in their 3-3 draw against Spain at the ongoing World Cup.

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