The incident occurred on the morning of 20/1 outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, which celebrates the career of the Portuguese football icon.

In a video widely shared online, a young man is seen pouring flammable liquid onto the bronze statue of Ronaldo before igniting it.

As flames engulfed the statue, the individual stepped back to avoid danger, then danced to rap music playing from a portable speaker. The clip was uploaded to his personal Instagram account, which has around 1,000 followers, accompanied by the message: "This is the last warning from God."

The fire spread quickly but was extinguished soon after. It remains unclear if the statue sustained permanent damage.

The act sparked widespread outrage on social media, particularly among Ronaldo's fans. Many commenters condemned the arson as "meaningless," "attention-seeking," and "an insult to an icon's honor."

Portuguese Police (PSP) reported that they identified the suspect but have not yet made an arrest. A source from the PSP in Funchal indicated that the individual "had caused similar incidents before."

Cristiano Ronaldo attends the unveiling of his statue in Funchal, Madeira island, Portugal on 21/12/2014. Photo: EPA

The vandalized bronze replica has stood outside the CR7 Museum for nearly a decade. The artwork was previously notable for its appearance and "sensitive details," and was also defaced by Lionel Messi fans in 2016 after Ronaldo lost the Ballon d'Or race.

Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, attended the statue's unveiling with his family in 2014. At the time, he called it a "very special moment" in his career.

A representative for the CR7 Museum stated that the police are handling the matter and declined to comment further.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)