What started as a fleeting handshake at Madrid’s Global Tech-Football Summit on December 4, 2025, has erupted into a global frenzy, with the unlikely encounter between Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas and Cristiano Ronaldo captivating millions overnight. By December 6, the moment—captured in a candid photo of the duo grinning over a Perplexity-branded soccer ball—had amassed 25 million views across platforms, trending as #SrinivasRonaldo and #AICleats in 50 countries.