The 'Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Manchester United' meme template rose to prominence during the late 2022 season, centered around the public fallout between the Portuguese superstar and the English club. Sparked by a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan and tension with manager Erik ten Hag, the imagery usually depicts the conflict between an individual icon and a massive corporate institution. Beyond football, the meme has become a universal symbol for professional breakups, standing your ground against authority, and 'speaking one's truth' even when it causes chaos. It is widely used on social media to represent any messy divorce or dramatic exit from a long-standing situation.