A giant statue of Cristiano Ronaldo has been installed in Times Square

On February 5, a famous sculptor unveiled a huge sculpture in Times Square in honor of the 40th birthday of the famous Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, reports NYPost.

Sergio Furnari created the 3,6-metre-tall bronze sculpture, which he wanted, as the press release says, “to immortalise the essence of Ronaldo not only as an athlete but also as a cultural icon who has inspired billions of people around the world.”

"Cristiano Ronaldo is more than just a footballer. He is a symbol of tenacity, excellence and global unity, which inspired me to create this masterpiece," Furnari said.

Siu!

The truck-mounted statue, painted green, red and gold, attracted a crowd to the Crossroads of the World, with fans waving Portuguese flags and loudly chanting their beloved hero's triumphant cry player: "Siu!"

"Siu" is the footballer's victory cry. After each goal, Ronaldo runs to the corner flag, leaps high with his arms outstretched, and then lands in a powerful stance with a cry of Siiiiiiuuuuu.

Fans often echo Ronaldo's sentiments, making this an exciting moment in any match.

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Furnari hoped the fans could break the world record for the number of people, simultaneously shouting a victory cry. But the spokesman could not say for sure whether they did so or not.

The sculpture is part of a massive birthday celebration in Times Square that included sports and entertainment figures.

The sculpture comes after the infamous bust of Ronaldo was removed from a Portuguese airport in 2018, just a year after it was installed.

The bizarre, almost cartoonish sculpture has drawn worldwide criticism for failing to capture the image of one of the greatest footballers of all time.

New victory

Ronaldo has won numerous awards during his long career, playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team at the World Cup.

Forbes has named Ronaldo the world's highest-paid athlete for four of the last nine years. He has more than a billion followers on social media.

He currently plays for a Saudi Professional League club called Al-Nasr.

Furnari hopes his new work will inspire the greatest Ronaldo to his first World Cup victory.

"I firmly believe that with the right training and mental preparation, he can win the World Cup in 2026," Furnari concluded. "The whole continent will be rooting for you, Ronaldo!"