Cristiano Ronaldo bust at Madeira Airport replaced… but fans launch petition to bring it back

THE mocked Cristiano Ronaldo bust that was ridiculed worldwide has been replaced - but now fans are calling for the original to come back.

Sculptor Emanuel Santos' creation was likened to Niall Quinn and The Head from CITV show Art Attack.

The wonky smile and asymmetrical eyes bore little resemblance to the Portugal superstar.

He spent three weeks crafting his masterpiece and it was unveiled at the airport when it was renamed in Ronaldo's honour in March last year.

But now Santos' newest version has been given pride of place.

The updated bust has been subbed in, being placed there on Friday - the same day Ronaldo lit up the World Cup with his hat-trick against Spain.

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This one looks much more like the 33-year-old Real Madrid icon but not everyone is happy.

An online petition has been launched to have the heavily mocked previous version put back in place.

The petition, on peticaopublica.com, is titled 'Petition for the immediate return of Cristiano Ronaldo's bust to Madeira airport'.

It calls the original bust 'an attraction for our island' and said its substitute was unacceptable.

A Bleacher Report article earlier this year went to visit Santos as he made a new Ronaldo bust.

But the one now in the airport looks different to the one photographed in their story.

It begs the question just how many Ronaldo busts are there?

Ronaldo was born and raised in Madeira and had the airport renamed the Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport.

He could not stop smiling in Portugal training yesterday. Quite right given he's leading the race for the Golden Boot.

Portugal face Morocco on Wednesday in their second match in Group B.