Cristiano Ronaldo Statue Vandalised After Lionel Messi Wins 2015 Ballon d'Or

Less than 24 hours after winning a fifth Ballon d'Or in Zurich, Lionel Messi has had his name sprayed in graffiti across a Cristiano Ronaldo statue in the Portuguese superstar's home region of Madeira.

Monday's award ceremony gave Messi supporters further ammunition in the war of which goal machine is superior, and journalist Nicolas Vilas posted an image of the defilement, which read, "Messi 10" (h/t Sky Sports' Peter Gilbert, photo via Goal.com):

Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro lambasted the vandals for their actions, per Gilbert: "It's a shameful act committed out of jealousy towards him. The rage that some unloved and frustrated fatheads display in public in a disgraceful way which leaves me as a Portuguese person ashamed and sad."

Additionally, Aveiro spoke of what she thinks of the perpetrators on her Twitter feed (h/t ITV News): "Thanks to him [Ronaldo] there has been tourism, jobs created and investment on our lovely island which unfortunately is inhabited by some frustrated savages who deserve to live in Syria. People who have no respect and do not know how to live in society."

Liga writer Sergi Dominguez agreed the vandalism was a deplorable act, one of particular disrespect considering it took place so close to Ronaldo's home:

The statue was erected in December 2014 in Ronaldo's hometown of Funchal, one year after he opened Museu CR7, a museum that displays trophies and memorabilia from his glittering career.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, a clean-up operation was already under way on Tuesday evening to ensure any evidence of Messi's name and number was removed.

Ronaldo was shortlisted for the 2015 Ballon d'Or and finished second in the voting with 27.76 percent of the votes, according to BBC Sport. But Messi was an overwhelming victor with 41.33 percent, while Neymar placed third with 7.86 percent.     

Barcelona's treble win served as a bitter disappointment for Real Madrid poster boy Ronaldo, but the defacing of his own statue in Madeira has taken his battle with Messi to a more personal level.