Barcelona, Spain – November 3, 2025 – FC Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, 18, and Argentine singer-songwriter Nicki Nicole, 25, have officially ended their whirlwind romance, both parties confirmed over the weekend. The breakup, which caps a three-month public relationship that captivated fans across football and music worlds, comes without accusations of betrayal, despite swirling speculation linking Yamal to Italian influencer Anna Gegnoso.
Yamal broke the news personally through a direct message to Spanish journalist and TV presenter Javier de Hoyos, who revealed the contents on the popular La 1 program D Corazón. "Lamine Yamal has just written to me. This is an exclusive," de Hoyos announced, reading aloud: "We are not together anymore. It was not because of any infidelity. We have simply parted ways, and that's it. Everything that is coming out has nothing to do with us. I’ve not been unfaithful or gotten with someone else."
The footballer specifically addressed rumors stemming from a recent private trip to Milan, where social media clips from his friend Souhaib and posts by Gegnoso from the Armani Hotel fueled cheating allegations. Yamal clarified that the getaway occurred after the split, emphasizing the separation was mutual and predated any new encounters. "The breakup has nothing to do with the reports of infidelity," de Hoyos relayed, adding that it stemmed from "other personal reasons."
Nicki Nicole echoed the sentiment in private messages read by reporter Jordi Martin, confirming: "We’re no longer together." She has since deleted all traces of Yamal from her Instagram, including romantic holiday snaps from a Croatian helicopter ride earlier this month, while Yamal reciprocated by scrubbing shared content. Neither has posted publicly about the split on their official accounts, but Nicole made a swift return to the stage, performing energetically in Argentina just hours after the news broke – a move interpreted by fans as a sign of resilience.
The couple's love story began quietly in July 2025 during Yamal's controversial 18th birthday bash in Barcelona, where Nicole was spotted flirting amid a guest list that included high-profile streamers and athletes. De Hoyos, who first reported their connection, detailed an initial kiss at a beach club days later. They went Instagram-official on August 25, Nicole's 25th birthday, with Yamal posting a cozy cake-side photo captioned with heart emojis.
Public displays followed: Nicole cheered from the stands at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, chatting with injured teammates Raphinha and Dani Olmo, and even bantering with manager Hansi Flick. Yamal dedicated a Champions League goal against Olympiacos on October 22 with a blown kiss toward her section. In September, Nicole gushed to reporters at a Desigual event: "I’m very in love, very happy, very content."
Yet cracks appeared by late October. Barcelona fans, frustrated by Yamal's dip in form during a 2-1 El Clásico loss to Real Madrid, blamed "distractions" from the relationship. Social media erupted with memes celebrating the breakup, with one viral post quipping: "Lamine Yamal is back!" Another fan wrote: "Best news of the year. Yamal, focus on your career first."
On the pitch yesterday, Yamal seemed reinvigorated in Barcelona's La Liga clash against Elche, scoring a goal with 41 touches, two key passes, and two successful dribbles – his first strike since the split news. Coach Flick provided an optimistic injury update pre-match: "He’s fine," despite ongoing concerns.
Those concerns center on pubalgia, a chronic groin condition causing persistent pubic-area pain. Catalan outlet Sport first reported the diagnosis last week, warning it could be "incurable" and plague Yamal's career, much like it did Lionel Messi in 2006 and 2008.
Physiotherapist Lluís Puig explained: "Pubalgia is not a muscle injury but an alteration where muscles converge in the pubic area. We'll have to live with it, doing preventative work to play at the highest level." Traumatologist Pedro Luis Ripoll added it reduces performance by up to 50%, restricting explosive movements – evident in Yamal's subdued El Clásico display, where he grimaced and avoided shots.
Barcelona's medical team opts for conservative treatment, consulting pubalgia specialists to avoid surgery. Yamal has missed five games this season due to groin issues, with his entourage alerting the club two weeks ago. Messi managed similar bouts through load management, offering hope for the winger tipped as a future Ballon d'Or winner.
Off-field, Yamal's star power shines brighter. He recently finalized the purchase of a €11 million (£9.5m) mansion in Esplugues de Llobregat's upscale Ciutat Diagonal – the former home of Gerard Piqué and Shakira. Listed at €14m in 2022 post their split, the price dropped after one guesthouse sold separately.
Spanning 3,800 square meters, the eco-modern complex boasts three interconnected homes, indoor/outdoor pools, a gym, tennis court, library, and Shakira's old recording studio (perfect for a musician girlfriend, though now moot). Yamal posted a poolside snap confirming the deal, planning to share the main 869-square-meter residence with his cousin and best friend, while renovating for a therapy room, enhanced security, and football pitches.
Forbes pegs Yamal's annual earnings at $43m, including endorsements, fueling the lavish buy. Ironically, the property's "curse" – Piqué-Shakira's acrimonious 2022 breakup – now ties into Yamal's own split, sparking jokes about a "mansion malediction."
As Yamal navigates fame's pitfalls, his focus returns to football. Barcelona, five points off Real Madrid, need his spark in upcoming Champions League and La Liga fixtures. Fans chant: "Single Yamal is unstoppable." Meanwhile, Nicole, back on tour, teased new music – perhaps inspired by heartbreak.
This saga underscores the intense scrutiny on Gen-Z stars blending sports, music, and social media. Yamal, already a Euro 2024 hero and Kopa Trophy winner, proves resilient. As one X post quipped: "From pubalgia to post-breakup glow-up – Lamine's scripting a comeback."
