Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham and other football legends who have been immortalised in statues

Football greats have been immortalised in any number of ways and building a statue or monument in remembrance is one of most popular ways to hour a player. Manchester City recently anunced ir plans to build a statue for club legend David Silva after his glittering 10 years at club came to an end. Here's a look at some of football greats who have been houred with ir own statues. 

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Footballer statues: Legends of game who have been immortalised through statues

Lionel Messi statue - Lionel Messi has a statue of his own in Argentine capital of Bues Aires which was unveiled in 2016. However, statue of  Messi attracted thieves and vandals who destroyed sculpture in January 2017. bronze statue was cut above ankles with body lying on pavement later that year. 

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Cristia Ronaldo statue - Cristia Ronaldo was houred with a statue that was unveiled in Funchal in 2014. bronze carving is 3.4 metres tall and weighs 800 kilograms. It became a big hit among locals, who regularly gared around Portuguese star's sculpture for pictures.

Cristia Ronaldo was houred with ar statue of his own just outside Madeira airport and that was unveiled in 2017. However, Portuguese winger didn't appear too pleased when his statue was unveiled as carving of his face looked thing like him. More so, fans on social media made a mockery of his statue. In 2018, Ronaldo's statue was changed to make it look more presentable. 

David Beckham statue - England legend was houred with a statue outside LA Galaxy's home ground, Dignity Health Sports Park, in 2019. David Beckham joined MLS side LA Galaxy in 2007 and it was start of an urd trajectory that spread popularity of sport in United States. However, some fans believed that several or club legends should have been recognised before Englishman.

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Diego Maradona statue - Football icon Diego Maradona has a statue built in his name and likeness in Kolkata in 2017. Argentine is seen holding up  1986 World Cup and it stands at 12 feet tall. Like Ronaldo's statue, Maradona's sculpture also received plenty of criticism as it failed to resemble Argentine legend. 

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic statue -  Swedish superstar had a statue in his hometown of Malmo. three-metre long statue of Ibrahimovic was unveiled in 2017 as  big Swede was seen standing with arms wide open. However, after several cases of vandalism, it was removed earlier this year.

Arsenal legends outside Emirates - France legend Thierry Henry has a statue outside Arsenal's Emirates stadium which was unveiled in 2011 along with Tony Adams and Herbert Champman. Henry still holds record most goals scored for Arsenal (228) during his eight-year stint in rth London. Dennis Bergkamp also had a statue unveiled outside Emirates in 2014. Dutchman scored 120 goals in 423 appearances for Gunners. Both, of course, were part of Arsenal's famed Invincibles side.

Im Credits - AP