Ronaldo is back on the market (gallery)

In a statement released to the Associated Press, soccer sensation and international heartthrob Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed his split from girlfriend of five years, Irina Shayk. We look at some of his best magazine covers.

“After dating for five years, my relationship with Irina Shayk has come to an end,” wrote Ronaldo.

“We believed it would be best for both of us to take this step now.”

“I wish Irina the greatest happiness.”

But brace yourselves, ladies, if the number of posts flying around Twitter are anything to go by, competition to capture his heart will be fierce.

After Listening About Breakup Of Cristiano Ronaldo Today , Many Girls Are Crying And Many Girls Are Happy… :)) @Cristiano

— Sahid (@ImTheSahid) January 20, 2015

my chance? :p RT @kwiknewsMY: Cristiano Ronaldo & Irina Shayk Break Up After 5 Years Together http://t.co/3KUzdtyNPl pic.twitter.com/ym8eFs29OA — Miss SaXobeat (@johan_sarah) January 19, 2015

Finally @Cristiano has come to his sense and realised he had to break up with his girlfriend so we can be together .. 🙂

— Clare Power (@powerpuff1994) January 16, 2015

And, of course, the rumour mill is already swirling with allegations of new romances for both Ronaldo and Shayk with Sports WAGS tweeting a picture of Lucia Villalon, Cristiano Ronaldo’s rumoured new girlfriend.

Lucia Villalon – Cristiano Ronaldo’s rumoured new girlfriend. pic.twitter.com/0F5dJ50IpY — Sport WAGs (@Sport__WAGs) January 20, 2015

Irina Shayk allegedly split up with Cristiano Ronaldo after getting close to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. pic.twitter.com/DYIzJjWAR8

— Sport WAGs (@Sport__WAGs) January 19, 2015

A word to the wise – if it’s Ronaldo you’re after you’d better be prepared to be the second most important person in his life. We know his son holds the number one spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QaJ0_OgxuQ

Until there is more clarity as to what caused the break up, here are a few of Ronaldo’s best magazine covers for you to enjoy.