One of the footballing sphere's foremost power couples, Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shayk, is officially no more.
After several weeks of tittle-tattle stoked by Shayk's no-show at the 2014 Ballon d'Or ceremony last week, Ronaldo issued a statement on Tuesday morning to confirm that the couple has split after five years together.
"After dating for five years, my relationship with Irina Shayk has come to an end," Ronaldo said via a written statement to The Associated Press. "We believed it would be best for both of us to take this step now.
"I wish Irina the greatest happiness."
The Real Madrid star added that he was making the statement to bring the speculation about their relationship and his private life to an end.
And lo, so all things must pass -- to which end Toe Poke presents an "in memoriam" tribute to happier times. All those tennis matches and FIFA galas are now but dust in the wind.