Funchal, Madeira: The Home of the Original CR7 Statue
- Statue location: Praça CR7, Avenida Sá Carneiro 27, 9000-017 Funchal, Madeira
- Entry to statue: Free, outdoor, 24 hours
- CR7 Museum hours: Mon–Sat, 10am–5pm
- CR7 Museum admission: Approximately €5 (verify current price at the official Madeira Culture portal)
- Phone: +351 291 639 880
Created by Madeiran sculptor Ricardo Velosa, the 3.4-metre bronze was unveiled in 2014 at a ceremony Ronaldo attended alongside his family and roughly 5,000 fans.
The statue depicts Ronaldo in his signature free-kick pose and stands in Praça CR7 — a dedicated square on Avenida Sá Carneiro, right on the city’s marina waterfront.
It’s immediately next to the CR7 Museum, which houses over a hundred trophies and honours spanning his career.
The square itself is pleasant — overlooking the harbour, lined with cafés, and a short walk from Funchal’s old town. Most visitors combine the statue and museum in a single morning before exploring the rest of the city.
Flights to Madeira connect from London, Lisbon, Manchester, Frankfurt, and most major European hubs.
Hotels in Funchal are well-priced year-round, and the island itself — volcanic peaks, levada walking trails, and Atlantic seafood — easily fills three or four days.
Madeira Airport: The World’s Most Talked-About Bust
- Location: Arrivals hall, Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), Santa Cruz, Madeira
- Entry: Free — visible to all arriving passengers
The Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Santa Cruz, Madeira, is the only airport in the world named after an active footballer — and it comes with its own statue story.
When the airport was renamed in Ronaldo’s honour in March 2017, a bronze bust by local artist Emanuel Santos was unveiled in the arrivals hall.
The bust went viral almost instantly — its wide grin and unusual proportions sparked global mockery, comparisons to unrelated public figures, and a wave of internet memes that remain in circulation today.
Santos produced a more restrained second version in 2018, which fared better, but that version was not installed at the airport. The original bust was later replaced by one created by an anonymous Spanish sculptor, on display in the arrivals hall.
Calangute, Goa: Football’s Most Controversial Monument
- Location: Near Calangute Beach, Calangute, North Goa
- Nearest airport: Goa International Airport (GOI)
- Entry: Free, outdoor
In December 2021, a golden brass statue of Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled in Calangute, on the northern coast of Goa, India.
Weighing around 410 kg and depicting Ronaldo mid-air with the ball, it was installed by local authorities to encourage youth participation in football.
Locals objected to it on two grounds: that the state had honoured a foreign footballer over Arjuna Award-winning Goan football captain Bruno Coutinho, and that celebrating a Portuguese icon in Goa — a former Portuguese colony — raised uncomfortable colonial associations.
Despite the backlash, the statue has become a tourist curiosity in its own right.
Calangute is one of Goa’s most accessible beach towns, well-connected to the airport and most of the coast.
Flights to Goa are plentiful from across South and Southeast Asia, and hotels in Goa range from beachfront resorts to budget guesthouses..
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the most famous Ronaldo statue?
The most famous permanent statue is the bronze at Praça CR7 in Funchal, Madeira — Ronaldo’s birthplace. It was unveiled in 2014 and stands directly outside the CR7 Museum on the city’s marina waterfront.
What is the infamous Ronaldo bust at Madeira Airport?
A bronze bust unveiled in the airport arrivals hall in 2017 went viral for its unusual proportions. It was replaced in 2018. You’ll see it automatically when arriving at the airport named after him.
Is the Goa statue worth visiting?
The Goa statue near Calangute Beach is free, outdoors, and close to the main tourist strip — if you’re in the area it’s a quick detour. Its real draw is the backstory: the controversy it sparked over colonial history and local sporting legacy made international headlines when it was unveiled.
Is Madeira worth visiting beyond the CR7 sites?
Absolutely. Madeira offers volcanic hiking trails, levada walks through laurel forests, dramatic sea cliffs, and excellent Atlantic seafood. The island has direct flights from most of Europe and is a well-developed tourist destination year-round — the CR7 sites are just one morning of a longer stay.
Sources
- Visit Madeira (Official Tourism Board) — CR7 Museum
- Cultura Madeira (Government of Madeira) — CR7 Museum
- TripAdvisor — Busto de Cristiano Ronaldo, Madeira Airport
- Goal.com — What happened to the infamous Ronaldo bust?
- Euronews — Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Goa receives backlash from locals
- PR Newswire — Cristiano Ronaldo Monument Unveiling by Sculptor Sergio Furnari
- Goal.com — Manchester United remove Ronaldo mural from Old Trafford
- CGTN — ‘Hideous’ Cristiano Ronaldo statue at Madeira Airport sparks social media laughs
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
