But it in fact England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.
A snap of the waxwork has sparked a wave of humorous reactions online.
Taking to Reddit, one bemused fan, u/No-Philosopher5239, posted a photo of the waxwork on the subreddit r/CasualUK on August 4.
The figure, featuring Rooney in a red Adidas windbreaker, showcases a much thinner frame, balding wisps of hair, patchy facial stubble, and pasty skin, causing many to question its likeness to the famed footballer.
The photo shows a rather weary-looking sculpture of Rooney sporting a red Adidas windbreaker and a much thinner frame - complete with balding wisps of hair, pasty skin, and patchy facial stubble.
More than 1,000 responses have since poured in from Brits, with many drawing parallels to characters from popular culture, including puppets from the TV show Thunderbirds, as well as hybrid species from cult sci-fi franchise Star Trek.
One person wrote, 'Starfleet, but run by Birmingham City Council,' while another suggested, 'More like Neelix from Voyager.'
A third said, 'Looks like a team America puppet,' as another joked, 'Looks like a puppet from "Thunderbirds."'
Some fans even suggested that the waxwork seemed like an older version of Rooney from an 'alternate timeline.'
One wrote, 'Looks like the old g** who starts fights outside the pub,' while another said, 'It's like an alternate timeline, in which Wayne suffers a career-ending injury very early on and spends the next 40 years down the men's club. Smoking a lot.'
A third joked: 'Pretty sure I served this man a sausage, bean & cheese melt at Greggs today.'
One particularly notable comparison came from a fan who likened the sculpture to former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, writing: 'Looks more like Gorbachev.'
Meanwhile, two terrified fans commented on the sculpture's sinister appearance, with one writing, 'Wow, that is incredibly awful,' as another said, 'I don't know about you but wax figures are scary.'
It comes after a Dublin museum recently promised to 'do better' and vowed to create a more accurate waxwork of the late singer, Sinéad O'Connor.
Her sculpture, which was unveiled on July 26 to commemorate the one year anniversary of her death, was slammed by fans, with many comparing the model of the iconic singer to a Thunderbird.
'In response to the public's feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinéad's devoted fans,' a spokesperson for the National Wax Museum in Dublin said.
'With this in mind, we are committed to creating a new wax figure that better reflects Sinéad O'Connor's true spirit and iconic image,' they revealed.
Rooney's Waxwork: A 'Shambolic' Tribute?
A PREMIER LEAGUE legend was immortalised in "shambolic" waxwork - leaving fans lost for words.
Several sports stars have been sculptured over the years for the likes of Madame Tussauds.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham are among those with celebrated wax figures.
But sometimes, they do not always go to plan.
Ronaldo infamously had a disastrous statue unveiled during his time with Real Madrid.
But perhaps this waxwork of Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney in Gdansk tops the lot.
The model Rooney - wearing a red and black Adidas tracksuit - bares little resemblance to the former England captain.
Fans were left in bemusement as one said: "This isn't just bad. Bad is too good of a word to explain this.
"Tragic is getting closer to the mark. Horrific might be better yet. But I think I'm going to go with shambolic.
"Yes, shambolic is a good word for this."
Another added: "I love bad waxworks."
One joked: "That is sensational."
Rooney, 38, won the Champions League and five Prem titles with United and retired from playing in 2021.
He has since moved into management and has taken charge of Championship Plymouth Argyle ahead of the new season.
The Curious Case of Waxwork Wayne
The Rooney waxwork has sparked a conversation about the artistry and accuracy of these representations, and perhaps the importance of having a decent likeness in the first place. It begs the question: how do these waxworks get so wrong, and why are they so readily accepted (or rejected) by fans? Perhaps the answer lies in the power of social media, where any bizarre or amusing sight is instantly immortalized, generating endless memes and online discussions. Ultimately, the Rooney waxwork serves as a reminder that sometimes, even in the world of sports, things don't always go as planned. It's a reminder of the humor, absurdity, and sometimes cringe-worthy nature of fandom, and the power of the internet to make even the most mundane events go viral.
