Cristiano Ronaldo’s investment in Perplexity AI marks the legendary footballer’s most significant business move yet. Recently, the Portuguese superstar confirmed his stake in the rapidly growing AI company, which has positioned itself as a direct challenger to Google. We’ve seen many athletes venture into business, but this partnership stands out for its potential global impact.
Perplexity AI, valued at an impressive $20 billion in its September funding round, offers users real-time, cited information through a conversational interface. Additionally, this AI-powered answer engine founded in 2022 has quickly emerged as one of the prominent challengers to ChatGPT. With Ronaldo’s investment, Perplexity now aims to expand its reach in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, regions where AI adoption is still developing.
What makes this partnership particularly notable is Ronaldo’s personal connection to the product. The football icon actually relies on Perplexity in high-stakes moments, including award speeches and major announcements. In fact, this investment adds another impressive entry to Ronaldo’s growing investment portfolio, which already spans multiple industries beyond sports.
Ronaldo Invests in Perplexity AI to Champion Curiosity
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner publicly announced his stake in Perplexity AI through an emphatic social media post on Thursday. This move adds a high-profile tech investment to his growing business portfolio beyond sports.
Cristiano Ronaldo confirms investment via social media
“Curiosity is a requirement for greatness. You win when you keep asking new questions every day. That’s why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity,” Ronaldo declared on X (formerly Twitter). Furthermore, he emphasized that “Perplexity is powering the world’s curiosity, and together we will inspire everyone to ask more ambitious questions.” The soccer icon described this collaboration as “just the beginning” of their joint efforts.
The partnership includes a dedicated “Perplexity x CR7” landing page showcasing Ronaldo’s career journey. Perplexity, founded in 2022, reached its impressive $20 billion valuation in September after securing $200 million in funding.
Perplexity AI aligns with Ronaldo’s values of discipline and growth
Ronaldo’s involvement with the AI search platform began as a user before becoming an investor. During the Portugal Football Globes in October, while receiving the Prestige Award, he openly credited Perplexity for helping craft his acceptance speech.
“Every milestone in my career has come from the same drive: pushing myself to be better than I was yesterday, and break my own records,” Ronaldo stated. “Perplexity understands that excellence starts with the will to know more and to ask the right questions. That’s why I’m proud to partner with them in a mission to inspire the world to ask unlimited questions.”
CEO Aravind Srinivas welcomes Ronaldo as investor and partner
“It’s an honor to be able to partner with @cristiano and welcome him as an investor to @perplexity,” wrote Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, on Instagram. “There’s a reason he’s the GOAT: he’s relentless and researches all the time on the latest techniques to recover and push the boundaries. We will work together to make Perplexity the best AI for asking questions!”
Srinivas later added: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s passion and drive have inspired me for decades. He embodies how curiosity unlocks greatness, and we’ll keep building new experiences for his fans”. This partnership represents more than a celebrity endorsement—it aligns with a longer-term vision connecting AI innovation with Ronaldo’s global influence.
Perplexity Launches CR7 Hub to Engage Global Fanbase
To commemorate the groundbreaking partnership, Perplexity has unveiled a dedicated Cristiano Ronaldo hub—an immersive digital archive bringing together over two decades of the soccer icon’s legendary career. This interactive platform represents the first major collaboration between the AI company and Ronaldo since his investment announcement.
Interactive platform features rare images and curated questions
The newly launched CR7 hub offers fans unprecedented access to previously unseen photographs from Ronaldo’s personal archives. Consequently, supporters can now browse through a comprehensive gallery of images spanning his entire career—from childhood photos to training ground moments and trophy celebrations. The platform organizes these rare visuals chronologically, allowing users to trace Ronaldo’s remarkable development over time. Beyond static content, the hub features carefully curated questions covering all eras of his life.
Fans can relive iconic goals and explore Ronaldo’s journey
Perhaps most impressively, the CR7 experience allows fans to relive Ronaldo’s greatest goals through an interactive virtual pitch. Moreover, users can ask specific statistical questions such as “How many goals did he score in 2014?” or “Which clubs did he play for in 2009?” and receive detailed, sourced answers drawing on comprehensive career data. This functionality transforms passive browsing into an active, personalized exploration of Ronaldo’s sporting journey.
CR7 hub aims to blend AI with sports storytelling
The Perplexity x CR7 digital hub essentially brings together Perplexity’s AI capabilities with rich sports storytelling. The platform serves as both an educational resource and an interactive fan destination. Looking ahead, Perplexity has confirmed that the partnership will yield additional content, experiences, and exclusive merchandise. Throughout the multi-year collaboration, Perplexity plans several activations including video content and new in-app features that Ronaldo will help create.
With Ronaldo’s massive social media following—over 650 million combined followers—this partnership primarily targets regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, where AI adoption continues to grow. The hub represents just the first step in what both parties describe as a longer-term vision connecting AI innovation with sports heritage.
Ronaldo Uses Perplexity in High-Stakes Moments
Beyond just investing in Perplexity AI, Ronaldo has actively used the platform in critical professional moments. The soccer superstar recently demonstrated his genuine reliance on the tool during one of his most high-profile public appearances.
Ronaldo relied on Perplexity for award speech preparation
At the Portugal Football Globes ceremony, Ronaldo made a surprising revelation while accepting the prestigious Prestige Globe Award. “This afternoon I sat at the table thinking about what I would say in this speech. I said to myself: ‘What is the Prestige Globe Award? Is it a career-ending award?'”. Feeling nervous about his preparation, he turned to technology for assistance. “I felt a bit nervous and said: ‘It can’t be that.’ Then I did some research on Perplexity – if you don’t know it, look it up later – and it helped me a little,” he candidly admitted.
Demonstrates real-world utility of AI in personal and professional settings
Ronaldo’s candid admission about using Perplexity AI instantly went viral, sparking conversations about how even global icons integrate AI tools into high-stakes situations. Indeed, this revelation adds authenticity to his investment decision, showing he personally values the product he’s financially backing. Ultimately, his public acknowledgment of using Perplexity demonstrates the practical utility of AI beyond theoretical applications—specifically how it assists with real-time research, preparation, and decision-making even for someone of Ronaldo’s stature. This high-profile use case highlights how AI adoption is becoming mainstream across all professional levels.
Partnership Signals Long-Term Vision for AI and Sports
The collaboration between Ronaldo and Perplexity represents far more than a celebrity endorsement—it establishes a strategic framework for AI expansion across untapped global markets.
Perplexity targets global expansion in Middle East, Asia, and Latin America
With Ronaldo’s investment, Perplexity aims to accelerate its presence across regions where AI adoption remains in early stages. Primarily targeting Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, the company follows a pattern established through earlier strategic partnerships. Notably, Perplexity has already partnered with Japan’s SoftBank, making it the first authorized reseller of Perplexity Enterprise Pro. Similarly, a collaboration with Indian telecom provider Bharti Airtel resulted in Perplexity overtaking ChatGPT as India’s top free app on the Apple App Store.
Ronaldo’s influence expected to boost AI adoption in new markets
Ronaldo’s reach—exceeding 650 million combined social media followers—provides unprecedented visibility for an emerging tech platform. However, the partnership positions him not merely as a brand ambassador but as a strategic investor supporting the company’s growing global influence. As AI literacy becomes increasingly mainstream, Ronaldo’s endorsement signals technology’s integration into everyday life.
Future campaigns to focus on curiosity, learning, and empowerment
According to partnership details, Ronaldo will feature prominently in upcoming campaigns centered around curiosity, learning, and technological empowerment. The multi-year agreement includes plans for exclusive merchandise and additional content releases. Ultimately, this relationship connects Perplexity’s information-focused approach with Ronaldo’s performance-driven personal brand.
Conclusion
As Ronaldo’s partnership with Perplexity AI takes shape, we witness a fascinating convergence of sports excellence and technological innovation. This million-dollar investment clearly transcends typical celebrity endorsements, instead representing a genuine alignment between the soccer legend’s personal values and an emerging AI powerhouse.
Undoubtedly, Ronaldo’s global influence—backed by his massive 650 million social media following—will help Perplexity establish stronger footholds in key developing markets. Meanwhile, the AI platform offers him a strategic position in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The CR7 hub stands as early proof of how this collaboration bridges sports heritage with cutting-edge AI capabilities.
What makes this partnership particularly compelling is Ronaldo’s authentic use of the platform. His candid admission about relying on Perplexity for speech preparation demonstrates the practical value he finds in the tool. This genuine connection strengthens the partnership beyond financial motivations.
Though still in its early stages, this alliance between one of sports’ most recognizable figures and a rising tech innovator signals a broader trend. Athletes increasingly recognize the value of tech investments while tech companies understand the power of authentic partnerships with global icons. Ronaldo’s emphasis on curiosity as “a requirement for greatness” perfectly captures the essence of this forward-thinking collaboration—one that promises to inspire millions to ask more ambitious questions.
