The sculptor whose bust of Portugese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo drew ridicule on social media last spring has taken another shot at a bronze portrayal.
The first bust, unveiled March 2017, inspired dozens of memes disparaging its likeness to the Real Madrid striker after it was placed in Portugal's Madeira — where Ronaldo was born — at a ceremony to name the island's airport after Ronaldo.
29.03.2017 vs. 29.03.2018
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 29, 2018
Emmanuel Santos' shot at redemption. pic.twitter.com/A91RjDJCOF
One year later, sculptor Emanuel Santos offered the public another tribute to the football star, this time with a "more serious" expression.
While Santos admitted being "nervous" about potential criticism of his second attempt, he stood by the original piece, saying:
"I liked the result [of the first bust] and was really proud of it. And if I had to do it again, I would make everything exactly the same."
Not all reactions to his first work were negative, and Ronaldo himself praised it. It remains on permanent display outside the airport terminal entrance.
