Statue of Cristiano Ronaldo in Madeira vandalised following Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or win

Vandals in Cristiano Ronaldo's motherland were outwardly happy to see Messi win the esteemed individual accolade for a fifth time.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister has attacked vandals who painted Messi’s name and a number 10 on a statue erected in honour of the Real Madrid footballer in his native Madeira.

Tribute: Ronaldo attended the unveiling of his statue in December 2014

The statue - unveiled in December 2014 in island capital Funchal - was vandalised overnight as the Barcelona striker pipped Ronaldo to claim a historic fifth Ballon d’Or.

The large replica of the former Man United striker - famed for being generous to the footballer in the shorts department - was cleaned up on Tuesday after officials were alerted to the damage.

Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro took to Facebook to say she was “ashamed” at what had happened and called those responsible “savages.”

The statue of Cristiano Ronaldo located in Madeira was vandalized last night. Messi's name was inscribed on it. pic.twitter.com/MInTzZQQpn
— RMadridFact (@RMadridFact) January 12, 2016

Letting her anger show in a long-winded attack in which she described her brother as a ‘marvellous person’ and a ‘fighter’, she said: “I find the act in itself a dishonour but what I find more shameful is the envy that surrounds him and the rage that some unloved and frustrated fatheads display in public in a disgraceful way which leaves me as a Portuguese person ashamed and sad.

“The people that are responsible for this and other negative things directed towards this person should know that our island was recently voted the world’s leading island destination not just for the beautiful sea that surrounds us or for our marvellous gastronomy or even the warm Madeiran welcome.

Tribute: The Portugal star attended the unveiling of his statue with friends and family

“It was in part thanks to this great Madeiran figure that honours his origins.”

Dubbing the vandals “frustrated savages” and saying they deserved to be sent to Syria in an attack in which she appeared at times to be overwhelmed by her own anger, she added: “Sadly my beautiful island is still inhabited by some frustrated savages who should live in Syria amidst people who don’t respect each other and who don’t know how to live together.

Winner: Messi is congratulated on his Ballon d'Or success by Ronaldo

“Please forgive me those who are suffering because of war but I think people are badly distributed.

“There are still envious people on this planet who can’t accept the success of others, mediocre people who don’t do our world any good.”

Cristiano, 30, returned to Madeira to pose in front of the bronze effigy with his family by his side when it was unveiled.