When Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamously horrific bronze statue was unleashed upon the world last year, we thought we had seen it all, Hell included.

But clearly we weren’t ready for this latest bust-up.

On Monday evening, US soccer great Brandi Chastain (pictured above) was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco.

According to NPR, she was presented with a bronze plaque of her likeness in honour of her achievements, including winning two World Cups and two gold medals at the Olympics.

Sounds sweet so far.

The plan is for the plaque to be displayed at San Francisco International Airport.

Even sweeter.

But then when you see it … sherbet.

Looking at it, we don’t think air travellers will want to go near the airport ever again:

An honour?

More like “horror.”

Chastain posed for pictures with the plaque, saying, “It’s not the most flattering, but it’s nice.”

Kudos for her bravery. Someone give her another gold medal, this time for not visibly cringing.

Brrrr. That face is enough to turn anyone into stone.

San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Ann Killian called attention to the huge discrepancy between the athlete and her, er, likeness on Twitter:

Brandi Chastain is one of the most beautiful athletes I’ve ever covered. How this became her plaque is a freaking embarrassment for BASHOF. Makes Cristiano’s look perfect.

Agreed.

Needless to say, soccer Twitter caught wind of this and displayed zero chill:

Someone went as far as to compare the plaque’s likeness to NFL coach Rex Ryan:

Good try, but I think this presidential comparison is the best match:

Positively uncanny.

Thank the Lord that the outcry led to a positive outcome: Chastain told Killian that the Hall of Fame plans to redo the plaque, and they will use a photo of her choosing.

Great stuff. But I’m still stuck wondering how Chastain managed to keep a straight face standing next to that … abominable bronze thing.

Let’s hope her next plaque’s likeness will keep its face straight, too.

[source:npr]