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Cristiano Ronaldo gets airport in Portugal

By Alex Butler
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks on during the Euro 2016 Semi-Final match at the Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France on July 6, 2016. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI
1 of 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks on during the Euro 2016 Semi-Final match at the Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France on July 6, 2016. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo

MADEIRA, Portugal, July 25 (UPI) -- With several hundred million dollars lining his pockets, Cristiano Ronaldo can have nearly anything.

Now he has an airport.

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Ronaldo was named Forbes' Highest Paid Athlete this year with an income of $88 million, including salary and endorsements.

On Friday, Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, announced that the International Airport will be renamed for Ronaldo.

"The decision is an acknowledgement to the services and high profile the Real Madrid player has brought to the region affirmed the 55 year old politician. The move to name the airport (formerly known as Santa Catarina Airport) was formalized after a meeting held on Thursday during a council meeting of the local Government," AS reported.

On Saturday, Ronaldo posted a photo on Twitter from the cabin of a plush private jet. The caption read simply: "Thanks Madeira." The soccer sensation already has a hotel, statue, and a museum in his namesake in Portugal.

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Ronaldo, 31, was born in Funchal, Madeira, on the small island off of the west coast of Portugal. He had three goals and three assists to lead Portugal's improbable navigation to the 2016 UEFA Euro championship.

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