Harry Kane statue hidden away for five years finally unveiled – and fans have been given Cristiano Ronaldo flashbacks

Today at 08:26 AM

At last, Harry Kane’s statue has been unveiled – and fans think it’s worse than they originally feared.

The England captain had been made up in bronze in 2020 following a £7,200 commission by Waltham Forest Council, but it had been hidden away for four years.

It had originally been made to be placed outside of Chingford Overground Station, but plans were abandoned after a risk assessment conducted by Transport For London.

Pictures of the Bayern Munich striker’s statue have been leaked in the mean time, with many fans fearing it looks absolutely nothing like him.

But now, fans have been able to see the figure in all its glory outside his and David Beckham‘s former club Ridgeway Rovers’ new home, the Peter May Centre in east London.

Kane, who has been back in England for international duty this week, visited the site he helped open in 2016, and was filmed standing alongside the bronze work as two youngsters lifted the cover of it.

The England captain applauded as the statue was unveiled, with the kids standing either side.

And supporters on social media have, quite frankly, been left stunned at the final product.

One wrote on X: “We genuinely need to stop making footballer statues because what even is this?”

A second, posting a snap of the iconic bronze version of Cristiano Ronaldo, said: “Well we can add that to the list.”

“Harry Kane sat next to the demon people see when they get sleep paralysis…” a third joked.

“Where was Michelangelo when you needed him?” a fourth quipped.

On a more serious note, even art critics have been left divided over the Kane statue.

Art critic Estelle Lovatt told Sky News this morning: “If you think about it historically, a public statue was there to immortalise, show off and loudly boast of the achievements and accomplishments of the person.

“If it doesn’t really bear a resemblance to the person, it’s quite difficult to relate to it.”

When asked what her initial reaction to the piece was, she said: “I just thought the Roman emperors wouldn’t have put up with it, with this sort of standard.

“It’s imposing because of its size and its fantastical because of its size, but it lacks any aesthetic creativity.”

She added: “When it becomes quite a laughable depiction, that doesn’t empower the craftsman or the artist or indeed the master they are trying to capture. It sort of lets everybody down.”

But despite the questions surrounding whether it actually looks like England’s captain, when pictures of Kane’s statue emerged in March, his spokesperson revealed the Three Lions striker was excited by it.

“Especially with Harry being England and Tottenham’s all time top goal scorer. It is what he deserves,” the spokesperson said.

“The location of the statue is really important to us and like [Conservative Chingford councillor] Emma [Best] said we are having some issues at the moment, but when we get it right, we will be happy to go.”

The night before his statue unveiling, Kane found the net for England once again at Wembley.

The Three Lions demolished Ireland in the second half of their Nations League clash, netting five with no reply.

Kane scored a 53rd minute penalty to bring up a record-extending 69th international goal on his 103rd appearance – and his goal record may never be broken.

There have been plenty of questions surrounding the former Tottenham star’s place in England’s starting XI as he enters his 30s, with younger alternatives including Ollie Watkins waiting in the wings.

But for now, the Three Lions goalscorer can bask in being his country’s no. 9.

Even if his statue is slightly questionable…