Is it over between Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Russian model Irina Shayk?

Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha on Jan 16 reported that Ronaldo, 29, has confirmed the split to his family.

Ronaldo is said to have spent New Year's Eve alone after an argument that followed Shayk's refusal to attend a surprise birthday party the footballer was arranging for his 60-year-old mother, Madam Dolores Aveiro.

The leggy model, 29, was said to have had a strained relationship with Ronaldo's mother and sisters.

A source told Correio da Manha: "Cristiano wanted to surprise his mum and as he spent Christmas with Irina in Dubai, he had planned to be with him mum on her birthday, but Irina didn't want to go. They had such a big row that he ended up spending New Year's Eve alone with his son."

The source added: "Dolores thinks Irina wasn't the right woman for Ronaldo's son. She wanted someone who would, in the future, assume the role of mum for Cristiano Jr. That wasn't a priority for Irina."

The paper claimed that on one of her recent trips to Madrid, Shayk decided to stay in a hotel because Madam Aveiro was in Ronaldo's luxury home.

According to the paper, the row was "straw that broke the camel's back", and Shayk later "unfollowed" her boyfriend of five years on Twitter, setting the gossip mill on fire.

On Jan 12, she was not in Zurich to see Ronaldo receive football's top honour at the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Instead, the 2014 Fifa Player of the Year was accompanied on stage by his son, four-year-old Cristiano Jr. This is his third Ballon d'Or.

In his acceptance speech, Ronaldo thanked his family, his team-mates and his fans. There was no mention of Shayk.

Her absence set tongues wagging.

Shayk's PR representative said the model did not attend the annual awards event because she had other commitments.

The spokesman told Goal.com: "(The Ballon d'Or) didn't fit in with her schedule. It was because of work commitments. We have no further comment to make."

There is no official word yet from either party on the reported break-up.

The couple met during an Armani Exchange photo shoot in 2010 and started dating after that.

The identity of Cristiano Jr's mother is still a closely-guarded secret, fanning rumours that she is a surrogate mum or that the boy is the result of a one-night stand.