The Portugal Museum Dedicated Entirely To Soccer Legend Cristiano Ronaldo

Without a doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous and beloved soccer players alive today. He has built up a following of numerous fans worldwide with his rags-to-riches success story and is one of the most profitable athletes of all time. According to Britannica, he played with Manchester United from 2003 to 2022, but his contract with the team ended on November 22. He is best known for his monstrous attacking style and some of the best footwork demonstrated by any playing athlete in soccer. 

It hasn't been all rainbows and sunshine with Ronaldo, however, as he was charged with tax evasion in June 2018, agreeing to pay Spain $21.8 million (per Britannica). With that being said, very few athletes can claim to have an entire museum dedicated to them as Ronaldo can. Museum CR7 is exactly that. Located in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, this museum has artifacts, videos, photographs, wax works, trophies, and many more about Ronaldo (via Visit Madeira). 

Cristiano Ronaldo isn't the only athlete to have an entire museum dedicated to them. According to Legit, a few others also have museums of their own, such as athletes Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, the legendary soccer player Pelé, and more. There are various reasons why the others have their own museum, but how did Ronaldo get his? That story begins with Hugo Aveiro, Ronaldo's brother. As stated by The Guardian, Hugo would sometimes frequent Ronaldo's Madrid home and notice that many of his trophies were basically strewn around the place. He came up with the idea to put them all in one place. 

The original museum was big enough for more than 140 trophies at the time, but Ronaldo's soccer success grew larger and larger. Eventually, the brothers acquired a larger space, along with a new location in Praça do Mar, which is where the museum now resides. The Pestana CR7 Hotel is also situated nearby, allowing guests to stay a night as they appreciate the soccer legend (via Pestana CR7). 

As said previously, the museum is massive, covering a whopping distance of 1,400 square miles (via The Guardian). What's impressive is that there's a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo by the museum's entrance, which stands 10 feet tall, is made of bronze, and has a plaque emblazoned with the words "melhor jogador do mundo," meaning best player in the world. Of course, many soccer fans would agree with that statement, given Ronaldo's incredible track record. 

Inside, the museum boasts a staggering collection of various exhibits and items related to the star athlete. Replica Ballon d'Or trophies rest in glass cases, waxworks of the star himself stand stoically in the hallowed halls of fame, and various videos and photographs of some of Ronaldo's greatest triumphs exist for participants to view (via The Guardian). According to Madeira Best, admission to the museum is only $5, making it incredibly affordable for Ronaldo fans worldwide. The museum is somewhat of a tourist attraction, making it desirable for bringing in more visitors to the city.