Meanwhile.. Off the pitch, Ronaldo splits from partner Irina Shayk

Irina Shayk has broken up with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The model's representative confirmed the news on Saturday.

Her spokesperson revealed: 'We can confirm Irina Shayk has ended her relationship to Cristiano Ronaldo of five years.'

Now, speculation is growing as to why football's golden couple decided to part ways.

According to some reports, the relationship soured after Irina, 29, refused to attend a surprise 60th birthday party for the Real Madrid striker's mother, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro.

Portugal's Correio da Manha reported that the Russian beauty told her beau that she would not be attending the bash in his native Madeira, and the ensuing row irreparably wrecked their relationship.

A source told the newspaper: 'Cristiano wanted to surprise his mum and as he spent Christmas with Irina in Dubai, he had planned to be with his mum on her birthday, but Irina didn't want to go.

'Irina mouthed off about Dolores and Ronaldo took sides with him mum. It was the straw that broke the camel's back because they had hadn't been getting on well in the last few months.'

However, according to Irina's spokesperson, this report could not be further from the truth.

'Irina has been close with his family throughout the course of their relationship. Any negative rumors with regards to Irina and the Ronaldo family are completely false, and have not been a factor in the cause of the split.

'Irina has no further comment at the time.'

Fans first started to question the state of Irina and Cristiano's relationship when she failed to support the footballer in Zurich on Monday when he was awarded the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award. 

However, some raised doubts over the explanation as the awards ceremony had been in the calendar for 12 months in advance.

Suspicious fans also questioned why Irina did not bother to congratulate her estranged boyfriend on any of her social networking accounts either.

Rather than congratulating him on his impressive achievement, she instead chose to post pictures of herself on a winter getaway to a mysterious location, where she celebrated her 29th birthday.

Judging by the solo photographs, Cristiano was not there to celebrate Irina's big day with her.

She also dramatically unfollowed the footballer on Twitter earlier this week.