TheCable

Madeira international airport in Portugal has been named after Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portuguese striker.

A bust of Ronaldo was also mounted outside the terminal. It was unveiled in a ceremony attended by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Speaking at the occasion, the football star thanked his country for deeming it fit to honour him in that manner.

“Thank you very much for being here, to see my name being given to this airport is something special,” Ronaldo said.

“Everybody knows that I am proud of my roots and of my hometown, in interviews I give, I always make a point of praising Portugal and Madeira in particular.”

“Tributes should be given while people are still alive as myself, so I would like to thank the regional government of Madeira for the courage and firmness to defend this idea.

This is not the first time the player is being immortalised in Portugal.

Ronald has a statue, museum and hotel bearing his name in his birth place, Madeira.

He captained Portugal to win the UEFA Euro 2016, the first international trophy for the country.