A statue of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a stir in the southern Indian state of Goa, with locals accusing officials of insensitivity for honouring a sports star from the region's former colonial power.
Protesters with black flags gathered at the site after the statue was unveiled this week in the town of Calangute.
They expressed anger that authorities had shunned Indian sports stars and chosen a player from Portugal, which granted Goa independence in 1961.
Micky Fernandes, a former Indian international player who is from Goa, said the choice was "hurtful" and a "hangover" from Portuguese rule.
"Ronaldo is the best player in the world but still we should have a statue of a football player from Goa," Fernandes said.
Michael Lobo, a local minister with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has sid that the aim was to inspire young people to excel not just inside the country but internationally.
"All the boys and girls who want to make football a career will get inspired by people like Cristiano Ronaldo," Lobo said.
"If you pursue your dream and you're passionate about it then you can reach a higher goal. This is what we have written on the plaque."
Most of present-day India gained independence in 1947.
But Portugal's then-military dictatorship only relinquished Goa following an invasion by the Indian army and a two-day war in 1961.
Portugal's centuries-long influence remains visible in local architecture, particularly the many churches. Many people in Goa have Portuguese-origin surnames.
Unlike in most of India, many Goans prefer football to cricket -- and many support Portugal in international tournaments such as the World Cup.
"I follow (Portugal) too but when we have our own players we cannot put up a statue of someone from outside," Fernandes said.
It is not the first time a statue of Ronaldo, 36, has caused an upset.
A grinning bust unveiled at Madeira airport in Portugal in 2017 was widely ridiculed as looking little like its subject.
(AFP)
Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories Getty Images 
Johnwellsproductions Instagram PostInstagram/
Actor Siddharth's Instagram postInstagram Screengrab/
Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning Unaccustomed Earth comes to Netflix with a global ensemble castGetty Images 
Taylor Swift's lawyer denies deposition agreement in Tustin Baldoni- Blake Lively lawsuit Getty Images 
Taylor Swift has "no material role" in legal case, says lawyerGetty Images
Bryan Freedman, speaks to the press at US District Court after a pre-trial hearing in New York on February 3, 2025Getty Images
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively prior to Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City ChiefsGetty Images
U.S. judge rules Blake Lively\u2019s harassment claims were legally protected speech Getty Images 
Coolie hits £47m worldwide as fake ‘big mistake’ quote on Aamir Khan cameo goes viral Instagram/sunpictures