Police in Madeira are searching for a vandal who recorded himself igniting a bronze statue of Cristiano Ronaldo outside the CR7 Museum in Funchal. The disheveled man splashed flammable liquid on the figure and danced frantically to rap music while filming the act. His post on Instagram included the ominous caption: “This is God’s last warning.”

Bizarre stunt posted to social media

This bronze statue of the football legend faced an unusual arson attack on his home island of Madeira. On Tuesday morning, the vandal was caught on tape pouring flammable liquid over the statue before lighting it on fire.

Ominous Instagram warning

The unusual footage was shared on Instagram by a user who called himself a “freestyler and local man.” His caption stating, “This is God’s last warning,” ignited outrage among Ronaldo’s fans, many of whom viewed it as a cry for attention. It’s still unclear if the statue incurred any lasting damage, although the flames subsided quickly.

Police identify serial troublemaker

Authorities in Funchal are promptly investigating the incident. A source from the local police confirmed that they have identified the suspect, who is recognized for having been involved in similar incidents before, but he has yet to be captured.

A history of statue controversies

This particular bronze statue is distinct from the notorious airport bust that gained international attention for resembling Ronaldo poorly. The statue was previously defaced in 2016, prompting Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, to denounce the vandals, calling them “savages.”