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Portugal airport to be named after Ronaldo near his hometown

Real Madrid CF v Granada CF - La Liga

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 07: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF shows his fourth Golden Ball to the audience prior to start the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Granada CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 7, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

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FUNCHAL, Portugal (AP) Welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo Airport.

That will be the message awaiting passengers in the Madeira Islands from Wednesday, when the local airport will be renamed after the local star by the regional government.

Ronaldo is expected to attend a ceremony at the airport outside his hometown of Funchal on Wednesday, a day after his Portugal side lost 3-2 to Sweden in the city in a friendly.

The name change attracted a lot of attention locally, with many politicians opposing it.

Portugal’s squad landed on Monday at the airport displaying the trophy it won at the 2016 European Championship in France.

Funchal also has a Ronaldo statue and a museum about the player, as well a hotel complex named after him.