A statue of Harry Kane has finally been unveiled, but is being called the “stuff of nightmares” and likened to an infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust.

Bayern Munich and England striker Kane has been immortalised at The Peter May Centre in Walthamstow, east London. It was there, when turning out for Ridgeway Rovers, that the record-breaking frontman took his first steps towards superstardom.

In recognition of his achievements, Tottenham and England’s all-time leading goalscorer saw a sculpture commissioned by Waltham Forest Council – at the cost of £7,200. The piece in question is said to have been completed in 2020, but has sat in storage since then.

It has now been installed in front of a mural dedicated to Kane, with the man himself on hand to witness the official unveiling, but the piece – which depicts Kane sitting on a bench and a holding a football on his thigh – has divided opinion.

Social media users were quick to brand it the “stuff of nightmares” while asking why statues of famous sportspeople “all look so bad”. Art critic Estelle Lovatt has added to Sky News: “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.

“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. 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.”

Comparisons have been made between Kane’s sculpture and that which was erected at Madeira Airport in 2017 to salute the efforts of Portuguese icon Ronaldo. Said bust was replaced inside 12 months, after receiving plenty of criticism, while a giant sculpture in India of Argentine World Cup winner Diego Maradona has also drawn bemusement from football supporters – along with a piece dedicated to Manchester City’s prolific Norwegian forward Erling Haaland.