The art of carving the perfect statue is clearly a difficult one to nail, even for the most talented and professional of sculptors. 

This week The Big Issue revealed pictures of a long-awaited resemblance of England captain Harry Kane commissioned by Waltham Forest Council. 

But the reaction to the £7,200 statue did not quite go down as anticipated, as fans were quick to pronounce it the ‘stuff of nightmares’. 

One asked: ‘Does any professional footballer have a decent statue? Why do they all look so bad?’ 

But it is not just footballers who have had unfortunate likenesses of themselves made – and some are so suspect that they are even unrecognisable. 

The statue of England captain Harry Kane – which was commissioned five years ago – has been pictured for the very first time

From the world’s most famous figures, including royals, celebrities and sporting giants, many have been made a victim of the dodgy statue curse. 

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the worst offenders, both in the UK and abroad. 

But can you guess who they’re meant to be? Take a look below. 

1. 

This horrific bust of a famous football player is likely the world’s most shocking statue

2. 

This was the first-ever statue of one famous figure – and surprisingly wasn’t the last

3. 

Guess who! If you’re not sure who this statue is meant to be, we really wouldn’t blame you

4. 

Loose likeness! Put on your history hat and see if you can recognise this iconic comedian

5. 

Getting ahead of yourself: You will not believe who this terracotta head is meant to be

6. 

Great gold! This supermodel’s statue made her look like you’ve never seen her before

7. 

Smoulder: This is the statue of a very famous actor from back in the 90s

8. 

The tennis racket is a big clue here – and next to the statue is the legend himself

9. 

Dud ringer: This statue has proven very controversial and has been moved from its position

10. 

Feeling Firthsty? A 12 foot model of an iconic scene was recreated in statue form

1. Cristiano Ronaldo 

This horrific bust of Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the world’s most famous shocking statue. 

The bronze statue was unveiled in March 2017, less than a year after Ronaldo had won Euro 2016 with Portugal. 

It stands outside an airport in Madeira, the famous player’s hometown, in what was meant to be a nice gesture. 

The forward, 39, has even visited the statue – and would definitely have been in for a shock. 

Cristiano Ronaldo stands next to the bust of himself near the Madeira international airport in 2017

2. Melania Trump

In 2019, conceptual artist Ales Maxi Zupevc created what she claimed was the first-ever monument of Melania Trump – and unbelievably, it wasn’t the last. 

Unveiled near the former First Lady’s hometown in Slovenia, some described the wooden statue as a ‘disgrace’, saying it looked like a ‘Smurfette’. 

But the statue, carved from a tree trunk, didn’t last long as it was burned down that year by unnamed arsonists. 

Months later, it found a new lease of life and was replaced with a bronze version.  

This wooden statue by conceptual artist Ales Maxi Zupevc was the first-ever to be made of Melania Trump

3. Mo Salah 

If you’re not sure who this statue is meant to be, we really wouldn’t blame you. 

The creation of Mo Salah was made by Egyptian sculptor Mai Abdel Allah went on display at the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh. 

The incarnation of the Liverpool player, 31, seems decidedly out of proportion.  

But it wasn’t long before people compared it to characters such as Marv from Home Alone and Dobby from Harry Potter. 

‘Why does he have the body of an eight-year-old?’ one fan asked.  

The creation of Mo Salah was made by Egyptian sculptor Mai Abdel Allah

The football player is pictured in 2018 holding the PFA Player of the Year award

4. Lucille Ball 

In 2009, a statue of American actress and comedian Lucille Ball was unveiled in her hometown in Celoron, New York. 

Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Lucille passed away in 1989 aged 77.  

A Facebook page even sprung up called ‘We love Lucy! Get Rid of this Statue!’ and locals knew it as ‘Scary Lucy’. 

Even artist Dave Poulin was forced to admit that the work was a bit ‘unsettling’. 

However, Lucille’s statue was also one that didn’t end up standing the test of time, and it was replaced in 2016. 

In 2009, a statue of American actress and comedian Lucille Ball was unveiled in her hometown in Celoron, New York

Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Lucille passed away in 1989 aged 77 (pictured in 1955)

5. The Queen and Prince Philip  

This gigantic 12ft terracotta head is actually meant to resemble the late Queen Elizabeth II – and what’s more, there is one of her husband Prince Philip too. 

Owner Ben Bennett found the regal sculptures in a house clearance and erected them on his lawn in Windsor. 

After owning them for 12 years since the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, he has now put them up for sale for £2,000. 

So if you’d like to snatch these sculptures for your own garden, you better hurry. 

Make sure you have plenty of space though, as they are 18 feet wide. 

It is actually meant to resemble the late Queen Elizabeth II – and what’s more, there is one of her husband Prince Philip too

6. Kate Moss 

Kate Moss was as you’ve never seen her before in a gold statue once displayed at the British Museum. 

It cost more than £1.5million to make in 2008, and £1million of that was the price of the 18 carat gold.  

The supermodel was for some reason twisted like a pretzel and the artwork was called ‘Siren’. 

But Kate herself seemed to be a fan according to artist Marc Quinn, who said at the time: ‘When I showed Kate the statue she told me she loved it.

British artist Marc Quinn stands with his solid gold sculpture of British supermodel Kate Moss at the British Museum

‘She really liked the idea and she modelled for me for a day or so.

‘She didn’t pose for me like that. For Kate, she thinks it lifts her into a mythic level. I think she very much loved it because she understands the difference between her image and her self.

‘The sculpture is really about whether we make images or they make us. It’s about trying to live up to impossible dreams and immortality.’

7. Johnny Depp  

Johnny Depp unveiled this statue of himself at a Serbian film festival in 2010. 

But the Pirates of the Caribbean star couldn’t help but look slightly amused at his ‘likeness’ of him in 1993 film Arizona Dream. 

And as he stood next to his statue, it was clear to make out where the likeness hadn’t entirely worked. 

Johnny Depp unveiled this statue of himself at a Serbian film festival in 2010

8. Andy Murray

The main – and only – thing Andy Murray had in common with his statue was his characteristically solemn expression. 

Organisers at the 2011 Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament immortalised him in terracotta for the occasion. 

The statue made sure he looked like a warrior, instead of a tennis player, even giving him a coat of armour. 

If Andy was confused by his statue, he tried very hard not to show it.  

If Andy Murray was confused by his statue, he was very careful to not show it

9. Greta Thunberg

The University of Winchester’s statue of Greta Thunberg was created for a whopping £24,000. 

The statue of the Swedish activist named ‘Make A Difference’ was unveiled outside the university’s main entrance in March 2021 but was moved to a more secluded spot this January. 

After its installation, the sculpture – which was commissioned by the institution – created a backlash among students and locals alike who accused the university of ‘wasting money on meaningless statues’. 

Locals in the Hampshire city also expressed bemusement over the sculpture as the activist had no link to the area.

University of Winchester’s statue of Greta Thunberg was created for a whopping £24,000

10. Colin Firth  

The 1995 scene from Pride and Prejudice where Colin Firth as Mr Darcy emerges from a lake with a wet shirt was once voted the most memorable moment in British TV drama. 

But some fans seemed to take it too far – and a 12ft version of Mr Darcy was placed in the Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park in 2013. 

The massive statue looked rather intimidating in its new home in the lake, and even went on to tour around the rest of the UK. 

The model took a team of three sculptors more than two months to design, construct and paint and measured 12 feet – the equivalent to the height of a double decker bus. 

The model of Colin Firth was based on a scene from Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Lead sculptor Toby Crowther said they also got inspiration from the book and the other actors who have played Mr Darcy over the years. 

He said at the time: ‘We took Colin Firth’s famous lake scene as a starting point for creating Mr Darcy but we also read the book and looked at performances of the brooding hero by Matthew Macfadyen, David Rintoul and even Laurence Olivier.

‘The challenge for us was capturing the spirit of Darcy as handsome and noble but also aloof and proud. The Mr Darcy sculpture is a real mix of the many portrayals of Jane Austen’s most famous hero.’