The UEFA Champions League season didn't pan out the way Real Madrid hoped it would entering the 2012-2013 season but that doesn't stop fans of soccer and even museums from wanting to get their fill of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Although he was unable to play in Madrid's season finale against Osasuna this past weekend because of a back injury, the 28-year-old striker set aside some time to pose for two sculptors who are recreating the soccer star for the Madrid wax museum.
Taking measurements of his neck, hands, abdomen, legs and torso, Ronaldo was asked how he'd like to be immortalized in wax and said he just wanted to look the way most fans would recognize him during game action. "I don't know, maybe something natural and simple," Ronaldo said to the sculptors. "Like I'm usually seen on the soccer pitch standing, with my legs a little apart and looking straight ahead."
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This will be the second figure of Ronaldo put on display for public viewing. In 2009, the Funchal, Portugal native was measured for a wax sculpture to be displayed at the Madame Tussauds museum. The soccer star had his sculpture unveiled at the London museum in 2010 but has not found time to see the work himself.
While time away from a sport he's dominated since his senior career began in 2002 with Sporting CP has been enjoyable, Ronaldo's future with Real Madrid is somewhat uncertain given the fact that many believe he will return to Manchester United, a club he spent 6 seasons with from 2003 through 2009. Under contract with Real Madrid through the 2015 season, Ronaldo said earlier this year that he would honor the deal with Madrid although he didn't know what would happen at the end of that agreement.
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In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez voiced his desire to retain Ronaldo long-term in hopes that the club will be able to build around the player. "We want to build the Madrid of the future around him," Perez said. "And I would like Cristiano to be the best-paid player in the world. Cristiano told me in the summer he was sad and I told him we would do everything possible for him to be content."
Since joining Real Madrid in 2009 Ronaldo has been an offensive force, notching 146 goals in 135 appearances. In addition to his success with the Spanish club, Ronaldo recorded 84 tallies in 6 seasons with Manchester United and he's been a member of the Portuguese national team since 2003 where he's scored 38 goals in 102 career appearances with his native club.
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No matter what the future holds for Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch, his celebrity persona away from the game will surely continue to grow especially since he's about to have another wax sculpture created in his honor. At only 28-years-old, the future is still tremendously bright for one of the top offensive threats in all of soccer.
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