Published on 10:39 AM, January 13, 2016

Ronaldo statue vandalised with 'Messi 10' graffiti

Real Madrid and Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo gestures on stage during the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 11, 2016. Photo: AFP

As if losing out to Barca ace Lionel Messi in the race for the Ballon d'Or on Monday was not enough for Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid attacker was given another reminder of the Argentine star's dominance over him in the wake of the award ceremony.

While Ronaldo hoped to draw level with his Barcelona counterpart and pick up the award for the fourth time in his career, he was left disappointed to see Messi swoop in and collect it for the fifth time.

To make matters worse, the star saw the statue which stands in his hometown of Madeira painted over with some unwelcome graffiti.

The culprits wrote 'Messi' on the back of the bronze homage to the Portugal international, scribbling the number 10 underneath.