The Marouane Fellaini Smashed Face photo originated from a high-speed action shot during the 2017 UEFA Super Cup match between Manchester United and Real Madrid. Captured by Associated Press photographer Boris Grdanoski, the image shows Fellaini's face being hilariously distorted by the impact of a football. Fellaini himself even joined in on the joke on Twitter, which helped the image go viral across social media instantly. Since then, it has become the go-to template for depicting a person being blindsided by life, responsibilities, or sudden bad news. Its popularity stems from the raw, slapstick nature of the expression, making it a timeless piece of sports meme history.