Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal set on fire

The Cristiano Ronaldo statue in his hometown Madeira, Portugal, was set ablaze; police have intervened and are searching for the arsonist.

Specifically, a young man recorded himself pouring a flammable liquid over the bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo before igniting it with a lighter. When the flames engulfed the statue and nearly reached the hat he was wearing, he stepped back to avoid danger. Afterwards, he continued to dance wildly to music coming from a speaker he carried.

This video was filmed outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal, Madeira’s capital, which celebrates Ronaldo’s career, and was posted on an Instagram account with about 1,000 followers. On social media, the user goes by the name zaino.tcc.filipe and describes himself as “a person, freestyle artist, and local resident”.

Instagram user 'zaino.tcc.filipe' recorded himself setting fire to Cristiano Ronaldo's statue outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal.

Madeira's PSP (Public Security Police) states they are "attempting to identify the individual responsible for the damage." pic.twitter.com/A1GIuMszpQ

— foot.mundo (@_footmundo) January 20, 2026

The individual also posted a cryptic message, stating: “This is the final warning from God.”

It remains unclear whether the statue, which was relocated from another site on the island in March 2016 after previously being vandalized by Messi fans, has suffered permanent damage. Although the flames initially engulfed the entire statue, they quickly died down. No injuries or structural damage to the museum building have been reported. The extent of the statue’s damage is still being assessed.

A spokesperson for the CR7 Museum said the incident is under police investigation and emphasized: “At this time, we have no further information to share.”

The statue, created by sculptor Ricardo Velosa, has been displayed outside the CR7 Museum since 2013 and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Funchal, Madeira’s capital. The museum houses a large collection of trophies and awards Ronaldo has won throughout his career, including 5 Ballon d’Or trophies.

Ronaldo returned to his hometown Madeira with his family to attend the unveiling ceremony of his bronze statue at the end of 2014. On this special occasion, the Portuguese superstar expressed: “It was an incredibly meaningful moment to have a statue erected in my honor.”