New Cristiano Ronaldo statue unveiled in New York’s Times Square on his birthday
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the, if not the singular most popular person on the planet. You’d be hard-pressed to find a person anywhere in the world who has never heard of or seen the Portuguese icon. The legendary forward turned 40 this Wednesday, with time now surely catching up with him.
Ronaldo scored his 923rd goal just this week, in a 4-0 win against Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League. He has 21 goals and 3 assists this season, still incredible numbers for someone this age. Given the career he has had, it is no surprise that he has millions of fans across the world.
A statue of Cristiano Ronaldo has been revealed in New York as part of a peculiar “Siuuu” world record attempt to celebrate the Portuguese’s 40th birthday. The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient reached a significant milestone in his personal life this February 5th. He has traveled a long path from modest beginnings at Sporting, with a career-defining move to Manchester United finalized in 2003 while he was still a teenager. He then moved on to a legendary period at Real Madrid, then joining Juventus before returning to Manchester United and then moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Nassr.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo takes ‘better player’ challenge, picks Man Utd greats ahead of Real Madrid legends
The world has been commemorating Ronaldo’s 40th birthday, with the United States – which will serve as co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup – joining in the festivities as a 12ft statue of CR7 was erected in Times Square thanks to Italian artist Sergio Furnari. Furnari stated, inviting fans to the heart of NYC: “February 5th, if you admire Ronaldo come to Times Square to celebrate. It’s his 40th birthday, don’t miss it. We’re aiming to break the world record for the ‘Siu’ celebration! ” There has been no update on whether a new world record involving the iconic goal celebration has been achieved. Ronaldo is obviously no stranger to bizarre statues, having been subjected to several around the world over the years.
Whether Cristiano Ronaldo will play in 2026 is still up for debate. While he still regularly features for the Portuguese national team, there are valid questions as to whether it’s the best for the team. During the previous World Cup, he got dropped midway for Goncalo Ramos who immediately scored a hat-trick. In the subsequent Euros, he failed to find the back of the net. Come USA 2026, what awaits the millions of Ronaldo fans?