After Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award this week for a record fifth time in his incredible career, fans showed their approval by defacing a statue of his primary competitor.

The Argentine superstar accomplished much in 2015 for his country and club. Many soccer fans registered their approval for Messi and disapproval for Cristiano Ronaldo, even in Ronaldo's home country of Portugal.

Just 600 miles west of the Portugese mainland lies the archipelago of Madeira, Ronaldo's birthplace. There, the CR7 Museum showcases all of Ronaldo's awards and career achievements. Outside the museum, one can view the bronze statue of Ronaldo that stands just over 11 feet tall.

There's only one problem: The statue has Messi's name written all over it -- literally. The statue was recently vandalized by an unknown perpetrator, immediately after the announcement of the Ballon d'Or award.

Vandals used red paint to print Messi's name on the back of the statue, where a player's name usually appears on a jersey. In addition to that, a No. 10, also in the same red paint, was drawn on the back of the statue to represent the number that Messi wears for Barcelona and Argentina. The pedestal of the statue was also smeared in red paint

"It's a shameful act committed out of jealousy towards him," Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro said. It has also been confirmed that the paint has since been washed off, though no culprit has been named.

Real Madrid is struggling somewhat this season, ranking third in the La Liga standings. The team also recently fired manager Rafael Benítez. Some fans are even criticizing the Portuguese star for shooting too much.

Still, Ronaldo is one of the best soccer players in the world, and he did finish second in the Ballon d'Or voting ahead of Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Ronaldo had also previously won the last two Ballon d'Or awards.

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