Why Cristiano Ronaldo is Compared to Homelander from 'The Boys'

· GiveMeSport

Former Real Madrid and Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo has become the subject of memes likening him to the TV villain Homelander from 'The Boys'

Often, the beauty of the meme comes down to time. Does it come to represent a specific viral story or a flash-in-the-pan pop culture moment? Or is it endlessly recyclable and timeless?

In the case of the Cristiano Ronaldo /Homelander comparisons, its quality can now be best described as cyclical.

For fans of both the prolific Portuguese forward and the hilarious supervillain, the similarities are possibly quite clear to the informed eye. But for football and television fans in the dark, why is Ronaldo being compared to "The Boys" character Homelander?

It all started during Euro 2024. Portugal headed into the Last 16 against Slovenia with their star striker running cold. Despite two victories out of three in the group stage, Ronaldo had yet to open his account during the tournament. But Slovenia provided an opportunity to make amends.

Ronaldo has grown accustomed to grabbing the headlines everywhere he has played, but on this occasion, he caught the eye for all the wrong reasons. Desperate to end his drought, the former Manchester United star was a victim of trying too hard. He unusually spurned a number of good chances, including a penalty in the 105th minute. But it wasn't his open-play approach that piqued the interest of the online community; it was his free-kick taking.

In total, Ronaldo took three free kicks against Slovenia on the night, failing to convert any of them. The most notable being one from an acute angle that would've been more dangerous as a cross. Ronaldo instead attempted the audacious shot, with underwhelming results.

There was a persistence about Ronaldo that bordered on caricature. And for some social media users, it was comic book caricature. The demand to take every free kick within shooting distance began the tournament-long comparisons to the TV supervillain. Homelander is far more powerful than the show's other supervillains, allowing him to rule unchallenged.

It was clear from the Slovenia match that Cristiano Ronaldo was well and truly on free kick duty that evening. Despite the dead ball talents of Bruno Fernandes , Bernardo Silva, and even Nuno Mendes, there was only one player stepping up when the whistle blew for a Portugal free kick.

Ronaldo's antics against Slovenia almost proved very costly, with the underdog side earning a penalty shootout against the Euro 2016 winners. The Portugal forward did finally score on the night, converting his team's first penalty. But the real hero was goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who saved three out of three penalties to send Portugal through to the quarterfinals.

The Homelander comparisons reared their head again with the advent of the 2026 World Cup and took on a new dimension at the beginning of the 2026/27 season when Ronaldo sported a new dyed-blond and slicked-back haircut.

Homelander is the central supervillain of the popular comic book series and Amazon television adaptation "The Boys". The show itself is darkly humorous and Homelander is a reflection of that, acting as a parody of model superheroes like Superman and Captain America.

On the surface, Homelander cuts a heroic and patriotic figure. But suppressed beneath his noble exterior is a narcissistic sociopath who seeks to make personal gains from his incredible powers.

Originally created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, "The Boys" follows an eponymous group of vigilantes who battle the superpowered individuals, also known as "Supes". The Supes are far from benevolent, often abusing their powers for their own gains. They work for and are represented by a powerful conglomerate, Vought International, who manipulate the Supes' narrative in the public eye. This strategy ensures that they continue to be seen as heroic. Vought's superhero team is led by Homelander.

The show was hugely popular during its five-season run, as well as garnering critical acclaim. The adaptation was nominated for 12 Emmys, winning four.

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