Sculptor of that widely mocked Ronaldo bust compares himself to Jesus

When a bust of Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled Wednesday in his home country of Portugal, its -- we'll be charitable here -- creative take on the soccer star's visage was mocked across the internet. There were so many jokes, and so many Photoshops.

Now the man who sculpted the busted bust has a message for his many haters.

"It was impossible to please the Greeks and Trojans. Nor did Jesus please everyone," artist Emmanuel Santos told The Guardian. "What matters is the impact that this work generated. There is always the possibility of making a difference. I was prepared for all this."

Straight-up Jesus. Yep -- he went there.

The bust was unveiled Wednesday at an airport bearing Ronaldo's name in the Madeira Islands, the Portuguese archipelago where he grew up.

Santos said he drew inspiration from (where else?) the internet.

Bust Ronaldo, left, and actual Ronaldo. Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

"I used some photos of Cristiano Ronaldo that I found on the internet, nothing specific," he told The Guardian. "I put the photos next to me and started working on the bust."

But for everyone roasting his piece of art online, Santos says Ronaldo signed off on the bust after asking that the sculptor smooth out some wrinkles.

Actual Ronaldo. Credit: PETINGA/EPA/REX/Shutterstock

"He said it made him look older and asked for it to be thinned out a bit to make it smoother and more jovial," Santos told The Guardian. "But they gave it the go-ahead; they liked what they saw.”

Comparing oneself to Jesus might seem a little much. But then again, it's probably a bummer to see a piece of art you earnestly labored over get figuratively shat on across the internet by Millennials thirsty for a few likes and retweets.