The Cristiano Ronaldo Bust meme refers to a bronze statue unveiled in 2017 at the Madeira Airport, intended to honor the legendary Portuguese footballer. Created by sculptor Emanuel Santos, the bust's distorted features—including asymmetrical eyes and a peculiar, narrow grin—immediately went viral for its jarring lack of resemblance to the athlete. It instantly became the ultimate visual shorthand for 'expectation vs. reality' and artistic failure. While the original was eventually replaced by a more accurate version, the image of the first bust remains a staple in internet culture, frequently used to mock poorly executed plans, bad DIY projects, or any situation where the final result is unintentionally terrifying or hilarious.