Cristiano Ronaldo has been honoured in India with a controversial huge sculpture as the state of Goa looks to inspire the next generation of footballers.

A statue of the Portugal and Manchester United superstar has been unveiled in the former Portuguese colony.

The tribute in Calangute was said to have cost around £12,000 and weighs a whopping 65 stone, according to The Times of India.

Goa minister Michael Lobo posted two photos of the statue onto his Twitter account and wrote: 'For the love of football and at the request of our youth we put up Cristiano Ronaldo's statue in the park to inspire our youngsters to take football to greater heights.

'It was an honour to inaugurate the beautification of open space, landscaping, garden with foundation and walkway.'

He told ANI: 'This is for the first time that the statue of Cristiano Ronaldo has come up in India. This is nothing but to inspire our youth.

'If you want to take football to another level then this is what young boys and girls will look forward to, taking selfies and looking at the statue and getting inspired to play.'

However the statue has split opinion with some reportedly waving black flags in protest at the installation.

Meanwhile critics have suggested footballers from their own country should have been honoured instead.

'There are so many great footballers from Calangute like Bruno Coutinho and Yolanda D’Souza, who have brought laurels to India by playing football at international level. Why couldn’t their statues be installed? They are from Calangute. Why the Portuguese footballer’s statue has been installed,' Calangute constituency forum president Premanand Divkar told The Navhind Times.

The western Indian state of Goa was a colony of Portugal but was annexed by India 60 years ago.

A bust of Ronaldo in the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's place of birth attracted worldwide attention a few years ago.

Madeiran artist Emanuel Santos was tasked with creating the image of Ronaldo and spent three weeks on the project, with the bust unveiled when Madeira airport, Portugal, was renamed in Ronaldo's honour in March 2017.

However the work was heavily mocked and the sculpture was replaced with a different version.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10352555/Cristiano-Ronaldo-12-000-65-stone-statue-unveiled-India.html

He told ANI: 'This is for the first time that the statue of Cristiano Ronaldo has come up in India. This is nothing but to inspire our youth.

'If you want to take football to another level then this is what young boys and girls will look forward to, taking selfies and looking at the statue and getting inspired to play.'

Sincerely, to a non football nation like India, Cristiano is the perfect icon to psyche the citizens up to achieving football greatness.
It is known that with the football talent Cristiano has, he still worked extra hard to compete with genius in the game and not still relenting which is a motivation for the Indians considering their pedigree in football.

The best footballing era of India was conquering Asia in the 50s to very early 60s (Though there was a mythical 99-1 won against Nigeria ) .
All just went down the drain that they completely lost everything about football.

I believe if they can put on the kind of mindset Cristiano has, Indian soccer shall be great again in Asia.

Ronaldo has won another Award, Sculpture D’or

But what is this in the sculpture for goodness sake?

India and overdo!

Rolando is an inspiration.. his hard working, his passion.. he's like from zero to hero.. its not i dont like messi.. he is good but i choose
CR7 because of what he do to improve himself and I won't be surprised if those started following football in 2009 or 2015 not understanding what CR7 has gone through and achieved.

£12,000 would have done a lot more in grassroots development than this statute .

kellyjc:
£12,000 would have done a lot more in grassroots development than this statute .

That is a crap bro!
And the post is borne out of beef for the person of Ronaldo.

How much is £12,000 to develop Indian football?
£12,000 can not perform any football development if shared among 12,000 grassroot footballers in India. But more than 12,000 grassroot footballers can be psyched up and developed if they see and read about this sculpture. That is the essence of the sculpture.

You think Indians don’t spend far more than that in their league?
Go and check Indian football league.

Lastly, there is a place of financial development and a place of psychological development

obembet:
Rolando is an inspiration.. his hard working, his passion.. he's like from zero to hero.. its not i dont like messi.. he is good but i choose
CR7 because of what he do to improve himself and I won't be surprised if those started following football in 2009 or 2015 not understanding what CR7 has gone through and achieved.

It is not a crime to prefer or like Ronaldo more but i would love you to come clean like Eminem when he told Benzino "Its not like we don't like you, we hate you....Period!" in one of his beef track 'Nail in the coffin'.

Life no balance.......some were born blessed and gifted while others have to work harder to enjoy same level of success but just know its nobody's fault Messi is blessed with talents that is meant for 9 people.

So just come out clean no be today we know say you hate the guy and I understand why as a man united fan.

Whether you like am or not, Messi will forever remain the yardstick to measure great footballers

Amotolongbo:
Sincerely, to a non football nation like India, Cristiano is the perfect icon to psyche the citizens up to achieving football greatness.
It is known that with the football talent Cristiano has, he still worked extra hard to compete with genius in the game and not still relenting which is a motivation for the Indians considering their pedigree in football.

The best footballing era of India was conquering Asia in the 50s to very early 60s (Though there was a mythical 99-1 won against Nigeria ) .
All just went down the drain that they completely lost everything about football.

I believe if they can put on the kind of mindset Cristiano has, Indian soccer shall be great again in Asia.

Ronaldo has won another Award, Sculpture D’or

Nice piece

finally saw a post about cr7 from this moniker after a crazy week of football..
pls ma/ sir, am still waiting for ur own opinion about mbappe winning the dubai d or award on Monday nite, it came as a shock to me bcoz I thought lewa would win it, it was given to mbappe n i didn't hear or see any online media outcry dt lewa was robbed..
Wat's ur take on mbappe dt did nothing winning dt award ahead of a fantastic lewa?? its all good n no problem as long as no be messi win am abi?? see wetin sentiments dey do all of una..

obembet:
Rolando is an inspiration.. his hard working, his passion.. he's like from zero to hero.. its not i dont like messi.. he is good but i choose
CR7 because of what he do to improve himself and I won't be surprised if those started following football in 2009 or 2015 not understanding what CR7 has gone through and achieved.

chaai...cr7 is an inspiration bt messi isnt, cr7 is hardworking bt messi is lazy, cr7 gat passion bt messi dnt av any n no even like football, cr7 is like zero to hero while messi came from a rich family...
u like cr7 because he choose to improve himself bt messi doesn't like improvement forgetting dt even though cr7 started before messi, messi still av more awards n more trophies than ur man n he deserves more respect dt u do gv him online...
u simply choosed cr7 bcoz u prefer him than messi doesn't take anything away from messi
i like turkey pass chicken no mean say chicken no sweet.
U are jus drowning urself in a pool of sentiments n na only GOD fit help u, I de pray for u shaa

kellyjc:
£12,000 would have done a lot more in grassroots development than this statute .

I swear....if I talk same, dm go tag me hater....erecting a statue In a country dt cr7 may never visit to see It..
na dier moni, na dier wahala n e no concern me.
i jus happy say even rochas wey bin get madness for statues bk den no clueless like dis.

Legend everywhere

Amotolongbo:
That is a crap bro!
And the post is borne out of beef for the person of Ronaldo.

How much is £12,000 to develop Indian football?
£12,000 can not perform any football development if shared among 12,000 grassroot footballers in India. But more than 12,000 grassroot footballers can be psyched up and developed if they see and read about this sculpture. That is the essence of the sculpture.

You think Indians don’t spend far more than that in their league?
Go and check Indian football league.

Lastly, there is a place of financial development and a place of psychological development

nice piece..but pls ma, won't dt 12,000 grassroots footballers be more perfectly psyched up seeing a statue of their own football legend or sportsman?? abi india dnt av any legend on sports or football?? must it be a player dt doesn't even know were india is on world map..
secondly assuming rochas neglect all the past heroes dt did well in placing Nigeria football on world map n erected cr7 statue in his state bk den...wont u also criticize him for such actions??
no be hate for cr7......I jus need ur honest unsentimental opinion

paulolee:

nice piece..but pls ma, won't dt 12,000 grassroots footballers be more perfectly psyched up seeing a statue of their own football legend or sportsman?? abi india dnt av any legend on sports or football?? must it be a player dt doesn't even know were india is on world map..
secondly assuming rochas neglect all the past heroes dt did well in placing Nigeria football on world map n erected cr7 statue in his state bk den...wont u also criticize him for such actions??
no be hate for cr7......I jus need ur honest unsentimental opinion

Please sir can you mention one great Indian football legend with his reputable achievement to psyche the Indians up?

Bringing on an India football legend as sculpture to do that is synonymous to killing India football and nailing the coffin.
It could have been Pele, Maradona or Messi. But these people chose Cristiano cos it is perfect to aid their aim and objectives.

Every field has one or more respected icon.
Florence Nightingale is to Nursing accepted anywhere.

Amotolongbo:
Please sir can you mention one great Indian football legend with his reputable achievement to psyche the Indians up?

Bringing on an India football legend as sculpture to do that is synonymous to killing India football and nailing the coffin.
It could have been Pele, Maradona or Messi. But these people chose Cristiano cos it is perfect to aid their aim and objectives.

Every field has one or more respected icon.
Florence Nightingale is to Nursing accepted anywhere.

no problem ma...wat would be ur opinion if rochas neglect our football legends n errect one for cr7 in his state??
would u also supoort him saying he gat his aims n objectives or criticize him too?? or we dnt av any football legend dt need such recognition ??

paulolee:

no problem ma...wat would be ur opinion if rochas neglect our football legends n errect one for cr7 in his state?? or we dnt av any too??

That is Imo state and Rochas Okorocha.
I don’t belong to the state.

But if it happens in my state, I will never oppose it and will appreciate the fact that it is an icon of development.
The news of this sculpture has made Goa know better than before and may attract Cristiano to visiting the place.
At least we have in my state many statues of Jesus Christ and Mary who never knew the existence of the geographical area around Niger River as “icons of salvation” and we are happy with them

Amotolongbo:
That is Imo state and Rochas Okorocha.
I don’t belong to the state.

But if it happens in my state, I will never oppose it and will appreciate the fact that it is an icon of development.
The news of this sculpture has made Goa know better than before and may attract Cristiano to visiting the place.
At least we have in my state many statues of Jesus Christ and Mary who never knew the existence of the geographical area around Niger River and we are happy with them

lolz....very perplexing reply, statue would attract cr7 to visit ur state?? like seriously?? ..its Owkay sha, gat to respect ur opinion n besides i dnt like wen people mix religion, believe or spiritism with football....I get ur point,....av a nice day ma

paulolee:

lolz....very perplexing reply, [s]statue would attract cr7 to visit ur state?? like seriously??[/s] ..its Owkay sha, gat to respect ur opinion n besides i dnt like wen people mix religion, believe or spiritism with football....I get ur point,....av a nice day ma

I have the freedom to post my opinion and you have the liberty to choose and oppose the ones that suit or feel like.
But you don’t have the freedom to change my content.
I said “The news of this sculpture has made Goa known better than before and may attract Cristiano to visiting the place.”

Be guided!

We’ve heard of a remote Mideast young boy who made Messi his icon and eventually got to meet Messi.

Amotolongbo:
Sincerely, to a non football nation like India, Cristiano is the perfect icon to psyche the citizens up to achieving football greatness.
It is known that with the football talent Cristiano has, he still worked extra hard to compete with genius in the game and not still relenting which is a motivation for the Indians considering their pedigree in football.

The best footballing era of India was conquering Asia in the 50s to very early 60s (Though there was a mythical 99-1 won against Nigeria ) .
All just went down the drain that they completely lost everything about football.

I believe if they can put on the kind of mindset Cristiano has, Indian soccer shall be great again in Asia.

Ronaldo has won another Award, Sculpture D’or

ode-mbet keeps disgracing himself

Amotolongbo:
But what is this in the sculpture for goodness sake?

India and overdo!

them include blokos for penaldo status? Small goat yansh dey shake oooo

From the look of things manure may not qualify for next year champions league. If per adventure they go to Europa do you penaldo will remain with them or japaa to another big club?


Click like to japa and share to remain with manure

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India na useless country shaa!
Persin wey never enter 1pitch for them country!
Na soo soo mumu dem dey do!

Yet not even one known Indian footballer.

Comrade

Who will unveil my 12 naira statue bayi?

GOAT

Ororo nation

Amotolongbo:
But what is this in the sculpture for goodness sake?

India and overdo!

Komot eyes for there, wetin your eyes carry go there