Airport Fails in Honoring Soccer Star

They had one job to do.

Airport officials at the former Madeira International Airport were about to celebrate renaming the location to the Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo—a nod to the world famous footballer who hails from the area.

Part of the festivities included a bust of Ronaldo’s head, arguably one of the more pristine craniums in the world. (This guy is so handsome, even getting half way to his likeness would be a win, right?)

MORE Entertainment

New Details Revealed for Disney's Star Wars: Galactic...

TravelPulse Podcast: What’s Trending In Travel This...

Ranking 25 Best Rides at Universal Orlando in 2021

But, like a drunken fan brought onto the pitch to take a penalty kick, the airport sailed this one well over the figurative bar and created a masterful monstrosity.

"I figured it out! I know what's so creepy about The Captain @Cristiano" pic.twitter.com/ayNvkqNYXZ

— INVICTUS (@ThePortoFan) March 29, 2017

@Cristiano FIXED pic.twitter.com/IFiDKMgUzm

— Que Rule (@que_rule) March 29, 2017

Some of the all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo moments pic.twitter.com/57Tx9VhbUm

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 29, 2017

Please don't let Article 50 distract you from the unveiling of the most gloriously awful bust of Cristiano Ronaldo at Madrid airport pic.twitter.com/fcyeFjdVUe

— Felicity Morse (@FelicityMorse) March 29, 2017

The Bizarro Ronaldo looks as if it were sculpted by a crack team of kindergarten kids hopped up on Pixy Stix and Snickers bars.

For his part, the Real Madrid star was surprisingly gracious in the moment, via ESPN FC: “Thank you for being here in my honor. Seeing my name being given to this airport is something very special, everyone knows that I am proud of my country and especially my home city. Thank you very much to the president of the regional government Miguel Albuquerque for having had the courage and the firmness to do it. I will try to dignify Portugal and especially Madeira with a spirit of sacrifice, dignity and passion."

READ MORE: Soccer Legend Dwight Yorke Denied Entry into the United States 

This isn’t the first time that officials have turned otherwise normal looking humans into something seen in the movie “Beetlejuice.”

Back in April 2015, we brought you the image of a Lucille Ball statue that looked like a Lucille Ball fever dream.

More recently, Madame Tussauds Berlin turned Ryan Gosling into a mere mortal by casting his likeness in wax.

There's something a little off about this Ryan Gosling wax figure https://t.co/75p9dQjxFM

— HRH Emperor Darroux (@EmperorDarroux) January 24, 2017

Let this be a lesson for any museum, airport, park or other landmark looking to offer a nice gesture: Sometimes, giant photographs are the way to go.

Follow @gabezal