In a strange incident in Portugal, a man set fire to a statue of football star Cristiano Ronaldo in Funchal, Madeira, while recording himself.
The suspect, who goes by “zaino.tcc.filipe” on social media, posted a video showing him pouring a flammable liquid over the bronze sculpture outside the CR7 Museum before igniting it, calling the act “God’s final warning.”
The statue, a replica of Ronaldo, had been moved to its current location in 2016 after previous vandalism by fans.
Madeira police confirmed they had identified the suspect, who was already known to authorities for similar incidents. Portuguese media later reported that he had been arrested. The Madeira Regional Command of the Public Security Police said the situation was “successfully resolved” and thanked the public for their cooperation.
Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi club Al Nassr, is expected to join Portugal’s squad for the upcoming World Cup in North America this summer.
