The curious comparison between football icon Cristiano Ronaldo and Homelander, the central supervillain from The Boys, has once again surfaced, with the unlikely parallel seemingly becoming something of a cyclical phenomenon. As highlighted by GiveMeSport, the latest resurgence has taken on a new dimension at the start of the 2026/27 season, coinciding with Ronaldo sporting a distinct new dyed-blond and slicked-back haircut.
The Euro 2024 origins of the parallel
According to GiveMeSport, the initial wave of comparisons between the Portuguese forward and the fictional antagonist first emerged during Euro 2024. Ronaldo, who had not found the net during the group stage, faced particular scrutiny during Portugal’s Last 16 encounter against Slovenia.
In that match, Ronaldo spurned a number of good scoring opportunities and notably missed a penalty in the 105th minute. However, it was his persistence in taking free kicks that particularly piqued the interest of the online community and helped spark the initial Homelander parallels. Despite other talented players being available, Ronaldo repeatedly stepped up to take Portugal’s set-pieces, often without success.
He took three free kicks against Slovenia and failed to convert any of them. One particularly notable attempt came from an acute angle, where Ronaldo opted for a direct shot on goal rather than delivering a cross into the penalty area.
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Portugal ultimately secured victory in the penalty shootout, with Ronaldo scoring his team’s first spot-kick. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa emerged as the hero of the night, saving all three of Slovenia’s penalties to send Portugal through.
Understanding the Homelander comparison
Homelander is the formidable leader of Vought International’s superhero team in the darkly humorous comic book series and television adaptation The Boys. Co-created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the character functions as a dark parody of traditional superheroes such as Superman and Captain America.
Beneath a meticulously crafted heroic exterior, Homelander is depicted as a narcissistic and deeply unstable figure who abuses his immense powers for personal gain. The Boys follows a group of vigilantes battling these superpowered individuals, known as “Supes”, whose public images are carefully manipulated by the powerful conglomerate Vought International.
As GiveMeSport explains, social media users began drawing humorous parallels between Ronaldo and the fictional character, particularly around the Portuguese star’s perceived on-field arrogance and his determination to continue taking free kicks despite struggling to convert them.
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The comparison subsequently resurfaced around the 2026 World Cup and has now returned once again. This time, Ronaldo’s dyed-blond, slicked-back hairstyle has provided social media users with another visual reason to revive one of football’s more unusual online comparisons.
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