Family feud and tension over ex-affair mark new crisis in Gabigol and Rafaella's relationship

The relationship between Gabigol and Rafaella Santos has been going on for over a decade and is going through another turbulent period. After recent hints of a possible marriage, the couple is now facing a new crisis marked by family disagreements and public signs of estrangement. This tension, in fact, was triggered by the Cruzeiro striker's birthday.

Internet users and fans of the couple were initially surprised by Rafaella's absence from the player's birthday celebrations, but it didn't stop there. According to 'Extra,' Neymar 's sister was still "clearly" distant from Gabi's family during the event. In fact, she hasn't even followed them on social media again, except for Dhiovanna Barbosa, the striker's sister.

The situation heightened the atmosphere of unease among those involved and was noticeable to anyone at the event, according to sources speaking to the newspaper.

Public signs of wear and tear

Other evidence reinforced the theory of a new crisis in the relationship. Until recently, Gabriel attended Cruzeiro activities wearing a promise ring. Although he didn't wear the ring at games, the only time he appeared without it, he celebrated his successes with a heartfelt gesture dedicated to his beloved.

It turns out that both the ring and the tributes have disappeared in recent weeks. Gabriel Barbosa recently scored a stunning goal against Bahia on September 15th and didn't hold his usual celebration. The Celeste striker hasn't been wearing his wedding ring either.

As mentioned, these signs intensified after the athlete's party in Belo Horizonte, marked by Rafaella's "isolation." The influencer, according to reports, was accompanied by close friends and had no apparent interaction with the striker's family.

Dhiovanna, the only exception on Rafaella's social media, was precisely the one responsible for triggering the crisis. This is because the player's sister attended the event accompanied by her friend Gabriela Rippi, Gabriel Barbosa's ex-girlfriend. The influencer didn't hide her discomfort with the situation, causing even more distress to the star's family.

A decade of Gabigol and Rafaella

About two months ago, the couple publicly declared their relationship again to dispel rumors of another split. Gabriel Barbosa not only dedicated his goals from the rout over Juventude to his beloved, but also shared a photo of the tribute on his Instagram stories, tagging her. She, in turn, reposted it with a caption reading "Us."

The atmosphere seemed different this time, and friends even considered marriage possible. Rafaella, in fact, lived or was in Belo Horizonte for much of the star's new life. She recently even discussed the possibility of becoming a mother this year.

But, by all indications, the relationship will be put to the test again—as it has been for over a decade. The two first met when the striker was still playing for Santos, in 2015, but only came out in 2017—after Neymar's sister's relationship with Lucas Lima ended.

The second definitive attempt came at the beginning of Gabriel's career at Flamengo , in 2019. They were together for much of the Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão title campaigns that season. However, the couple separated at the turn of 2020.

In July 2020, more reconciliation rumors surfaced. Gabi and Rafa appeared together at a few events and tried to keep their relationship private, but decided to come out again in 2022. Last year, the former couple received encouragement from Dhiovanna Barbosa, the player's sister, to get back together in secret—which also didn't last long.

Follow our content on social media: Bluesky, Threads, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .