Cristiano Ronaldo's sister says vandals 'deserve to live in Syria'

Katia Aveiro, right, was angered by those who vandalised the statue. Credit: Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister says vandals who painted 'Messi 10' on a statue of the Real Madrid star in his hometown of Fuchal "deserve to live in Syria".

Vandals daubed the statue with the Barcelona stars name in red paint after he won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time, with Ronaldo finishing as runner-up on this occasion.

Ronaldo had won the previous two Ballon d'Or's but lost out on this occasion to his great rival Lionel Messi.

Katia Aveiro took to Twitter to express her dismay for what had happened after the statue was cleaned and restored.

Aveiro criticised the culprits, saying they lacked respect for everything her brother has done for the area.

"I am angry, sad, disappointed and speechless at this so disrespectful lack of maturity. It is disrespectful for the tourists," Aveiro said on Twitter.

"We all know how proud I am of this person [Ronaldo] -- I could spend hours talking about his acts of goodness and qualities. As a Portuguese I am left sad and ashamed.

"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."

Portuguese authorities are still searching for the culprits.