It’s likely you associate Cristiano Ronaldo with his bicycle kicks, his Ballon d’Or wins, and the “Siuuu” celebration. But yesterday, the Portuguese star did something else big in Silicon Valley.
I’ve been tracking the AI wars closely, and this is the crossover episode I didn’t see coming. Ronaldo has officially invested in Perplexity AI.
If you aren’t familiar with Perplexity yet, you need to be. It’s the startup that is currently giving Google and ChatGPT a serious run for their money.
And now, with CR7’s backing, it just got a massive injection of global star power.
What Actually Happened?
On December 4, Ronaldo announced to his millions social media followers that he is now a shareholder and partner in Perplexity.
He didn’t just write a check, though. They are launching a “Perplexity x CR7” hub, an interactive space where fans can explore his career through AI.
Ronaldo called curiosity the key to “greatness,” and frankly, it’s a smart pivot for him. He’s already conquered fashion, hotels, and fitness; now, he’s planting a flag in the biggest tech boom of our lifetime.
What is Perplexity? (And Why Should You Care?)
If you’re wondering, “Why do we need another AI?” let me explain it with a simple analogy.
Think of Google like a massive library. You walk in, ask a question, and the librarian points you to a shelf with 10 different books (links). You still have to read them yourself to find the answer.
Perplexity is like a super-smart research assistant. I listed it in my list of top artificial general intelligence companies.
You ask, and it runs to the shelf, reads the books for you, and comes back with a single, clear summary of exactly what you asked, complete with citations. It doesn’t give you homework; it gives you answer.
That difference is why the company’s valuation has skyrocketed to roughly $18–$20 billion as of late 2025. They aren’t just hype; they are changing how we use the internet.
Why This Partnership Makes Sense
For Perplexity, this is a marketing masterstroke. Building a better search engine is hard, but getting people to switch habits is even harder.
By partnering with the most followed person on Earth, they just put their brand in front of a billion potential users who might never read a tech blog.
For Ronaldo, it’s about legacy. Investing in a company valued at nearly $20 billion puts him in the upper echelon of athlete-investors, right alongside legends like Serena Williams and LeBron James.
We are moving past the era of “Googling” everything. The race for the future of answers is on, and Perplexity is sprinting to the front. With Ronaldo now on the team, they definitely have the offense to score some major market share.
