Sports fans have been left angered after Twitter accounts belonging to Portuguese footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo posted identical tribute messages to the late Kobe Bryant.

LA Lakers legend Bryant was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday, with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also on board.

Later that evening, Juventus star Ronaldo joined fans and sportspeople from around the world in paying homage to the 41-year-old, widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

In a tweet accompanied by a black and white photo of Bryant holding a basketball, Ronaldo wrote: “So sad to hear the heartbreaking news of the deaths of Kobe and his daughter Gianna. Kobe was a true legend and inspiration to so many. Sending my condolences to his family and friends and the families of all who lost their lives in the crash. RIP Legend.”

In the early hours of Monday morning, Figo posted an identical message, albeit with a different picture attacked, showing him with Bryant.

Fans noticing the replicated messages voiced their distaste, with one account writing: “Copy and paste… feelings of lies”.

“That’s just beyond disrespectful,” another added. “If you didn’t care enough about Kobe to spend 30 seconds of your time to write some honest & nice words, just write nothing.”

The Evening Standard understands that Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo are represented by different agencies, and that Mr Ronaldo posted the message himself.

Kobe Bryant 1978-2020 | In pictures 26 show all Kobe Bryant 1978-2020 | In pictures 1/26 Kobe Bryant: 23/8/1978-26/01/2020 Getty Images 2/26 With daughters Gianna and Natalia with the Bill Russell MVP Trophy after his team defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 to win the 2010 NBA Finals REUTERS 3/26 During the 2012 NBA All-Star Game Getty Images 4/26 A giant banner congratulating Kobe Bryant is draped around Staples Center before his last NBA basketball game in 2016 AP 5/26 Jumping for a rebound against the Denver Nuggets during Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game in 2009 REUTERS 6/26 Reaching back for a rebound during the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals against the Sacramento Kings in 2001 AP 7/26 With wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Maria-Onore in 2018 Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 8/26 With wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Gianna Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP 9/26 With his daughter Gianna USA TODAY Sports 10/26 Celebrating in the 2009 NBA finals AFP via Getty Images 11/26 Dunking the ball with his left hand in the lane in the third quarter against the New Orleans Hornets in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs Getty Images 12/26 Backing in on LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Staples Center in 2016 Getty Images 13/26 Showing off his shirt in 1996 AP 14/26 Playing for the cameras at his high school gym in 1996 AP 15/26 At a post-game press conference in 2016 Getty Images 16/26 Waving to fans in 2015 Getty Images 17/26 Speaking to the media after his number 8 and number 24 jerseys were retired by the Lakers in 2017 Getty Images 18/26 Playing against the Utah Jazz in 2016 Getty Images 19/26 Taking on the Denver Nuggets in 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals Getty Images 20/26 Getty Images 21/26 Celebrating after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 Getty Images 22/26 Taking a free-throw against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 Getty Images 23/26 Kobe Bryant with Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball in 2018 REUTERS 24/26 Kobe holds his Oscar for Best Animated Short, with wife Vanessa REUTERS 25/26 Gesturing to fans as he takes the court for his last game for the Los Angeles Lakers against Utah Jazz in their season-ending NBA western division matchup in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images 26/26 And saluting the fans AP 1/26 Kobe Bryant: 23/8/1978-26/01/2020 Getty Images 2/26 With daughters Gianna and Natalia with the Bill Russell MVP Trophy after his team defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 to win the 2010 NBA Finals REUTERS 3/26 During the 2012 NBA All-Star Game Getty Images 4/26 A giant banner congratulating Kobe Bryant is draped around Staples Center before his last NBA basketball game in 2016 AP 5/26 Jumping for a rebound against the Denver Nuggets during Game 2 of their NBA Western Conference final basketball playoff game in 2009 REUTERS 6/26 Reaching back for a rebound during the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals against the Sacramento Kings in 2001 AP 7/26 With wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Maria-Onore in 2018 Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 8/26 With wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia and Gianna Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP 9/26 With his daughter Gianna USA TODAY Sports 10/26 Celebrating in the 2009 NBA finals AFP via Getty Images 11/26 Dunking the ball with his left hand in the lane in the third quarter against the New Orleans Hornets in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs Getty Images 12/26 Backing in on LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Staples Center in 2016 Getty Images 13/26 Showing off his shirt in 1996 AP 14/26 Playing for the cameras at his high school gym in 1996 AP 15/26 At a post-game press conference in 2016 Getty Images 16/26 Waving to fans in 2015 Getty Images 17/26 Speaking to the media after his number 8 and number 24 jerseys were retired by the Lakers in 2017 Getty Images 18/26 Playing against the Utah Jazz in 2016 Getty Images 19/26 Taking on the Denver Nuggets in 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals Getty Images 20/26 Getty Images 21/26 Celebrating after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 Getty Images 22/26 Taking a free-throw against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 Getty Images 23/26 Kobe Bryant with Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball in 2018 REUTERS 24/26 Kobe holds his Oscar for Best Animated Short, with wife Vanessa REUTERS 25/26 Gesturing to fans as he takes the court for his last game for the Los Angeles Lakers against Utah Jazz in their season-ending NBA western division matchup in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images 26/26 And saluting the fans AP

The Evening Standard has contacted representatives for Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo for comment.