The moment was shared on social media by the suspect himself and quickly went viral. In the video, a young man is seen pouring what appears to be alcohol or gasoline over the statue before igniting it with a lighter. After the act, the suspect wrote: “This is the last warning from God.”
The motives behind the attack remain unknown. According to Diário de Notícias, the case is being examined by the authorities and may be classified as damage to public property.
The statue, created by sculptor Ricardo Velosa, has been displayed outside the CR7 Museum since 2013 and has become one of the most visited landmarks in the Madeira capital. The museum houses a large collection of trophies and awards won by Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his career, including his five Ballon d’Or titles.
There are no reports of injuries or structural damage to the museum building, and the full extent of the damage to the statue is still being assessed.
