Cristiano Ronaldo bust at Madeira Airport replaced by new version

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick against Spain set several World Cup and international records for the Portuguese superstar.

Ronaldo joins episode five of Project Russia to discuss Brazil’s World Cup hopes and his ambitions for Neymar.

After two very different opening World Cup matches, the FC guys talk about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s differing roles for their national teams.

The bronze bust of Cristiano Ronaldo at Madeira Airport has been replaced with another one that presents a greater likeness to the Portugal captain.

The sculpture of the Real Madrid forward gained worldwide notoriety, and received plenty of ridicule, when it was placed last year as the airport was renamed for Ronaldo shortly after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory.

An airport spokeswoman confirmed to ESPN FC that the switch took place on Friday, the same day Ronaldo scored a hat trick for Portugal in a 3-3 draw against Spain at the World Cup.

Madeira-born sculptor Emanuel Santos took three weeks to create the original bust and defended his original work, saying at the time that “not even Jesus pleased everyone.” Santos was commissioned for a second attempt, which looks more polished and lifelike than the original.

The new bust, created by a different artist, is in the same location in the arrivals terminal as the previous one.

Adriana Garcia is a Valencia-based football writer who covers La Liga for ESPN FC.

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