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United confirmed the mutual termination with immediate effect following the 37-year-old's explosive interview with Piers Morgan that took aim at senior figures along with manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag has used Ronaldo sparingly in his first season at the helm which has often frustrated the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, particularly after his return to the club yielded 24 goals in 38 appearances last term.
Ronaldo, who is currently in Qatar with Portugal, claimed United had made "zero progress" since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 and left no stone unturned in voicing his displeasure.
The sit-down segment with Morgan, during which he admitted a lack of respect for ten Hag, has since forced the Red Devils to part ways with the forward whose contract was not due to expire until June.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect," United said in a statement.
"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.
"Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."
Now a free agent, Ronaldo's next destination will likely hinge on how well he and Portugal perform at the World Cup, with only a few clubs able to meet his expensive pay packet.
Upon returning to Old Trafford after 12 years away with Real Madrid and Juventus, it's believed the iconic number seven had commanded around £500,000 a week for the 2021/22 season.
That figure was believed to have dropped to £375,000 following United's failure to make the UEFA Champions League, and Ronaldo would be wise to consider his asking price if European football remains his priority.
Ronaldo has amassed a little over 1,000 minutes in 16 club appearances ahead of Portugal's Group H opener against Ghana, but only has three goals to show for his efforts.
Such a return has left both fans and pundits questioning just how much more football's greatest ever goalscorer has to offer amid reports of a move to the MLS or Saudi Pro League.
Another impressive World Cup showing from Ronaldo would go some way to silencing those critics, and instead revive the interest he received from the likes of Chelsea at the start of the current campaign.
With a romantic return to Sporting also touted, it is perhaps Bayern Munich who could yet make the first move.
The Bavarians were said to have met with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, earlier this month; this coming after initially distancing themselves from his signature in July.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has performed admirably in Robert Lewandowski's absence, but with the Cameroon forward's contract set to run out at season's end, the option to sign Ronaldo could prove too tempting.
What happens from here depends entirely on the Portugal star and his ability to guide his nation beyond Ghana, Uruguay, and the Korea Republic, with a last-16 berth - and beyond - his final audition before a decision must be made.
