American music superstar Cardi B has sparked intense romance rumours and gossip sites are having a field day. She was spotted on what appeared to be a cosy dinner date in Venice, Italy, with Nigerian international football player Maduka Okoye.
The 33-year-old global rapper, was seen enjoying the evening alongside the 26-year-old professional goalkeeper. Fans are wondering if a new romance is brewing.
The high-profile pair were recently photographed together at Gio's restaurant. The fine dining venue is located inside the St. Regis, a beautiful five-star luxury hotel that overlooks the famous canals of Venice.
For this special evening, the 'Bodak Yellow' singer turned heads by wearing a bright turquoise dress. According to onlookers, the two looked comfortable in each other's company during the dinner.
Are They a Couple?
This Italian outing is not the first time that Cardi B and Okoye have been seen together in public. Earlier this summer, the music icon and the sportsman were spotted attending an event at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. At that time, Cardi B drew significant attention with a series of high-fashion looks. Their joint appearance did not create as much romantic speculation as their recent intimate dinner by the Venetian canals.
These new dating rumours emerge shortly after Cardi B's separation from her previous partner, Stefon Diggs. Diggs is a prominent American football wide receiver who recently played for the New England Patriots in the National Football League. The former couple were first linked in October 2024. They confirmed their relationship in June 2025.
However, they reportedly split in February 2026. This was around the time of the Super Bowl, where Diggs' team suffered a defeat and Cardi B made a special guest appearance during the halftime show. Cardi B and Diggs share one child together, a son who was born in November 2025.
The young boy happens to be Cardi B's fourth child. She is also the devoted mother of three older children, named Kulture, Wave, and Blossom with her famous ex-husband, the popular rapper Offset.
Turbulent Relationships
Cardi B and Offset had a turbulent relationship that began in 2017. The former couple had several breakups and reconciliations before she finally filed for divorce in July 2024.
Maduka Okoye is known in the sports world as a talented goalkeeper. Although he was born in Germany, he represents the Nigerian national team on the international stage and currently plays club football in Italy for the Serie A side Udinese.
Like Cardi B, Okoye has had a complicated personal life in the public eye. He has been involved in a long-term, on-again, off-again relationship with Jelicia Westhoff, a Dutch model and social media influencer. The two have been together since 2021 and share a young son named Isaiah Emil Okoye, who was born in January 2023.
Neither Cardi B nor Maduka Okoye has made any kind of official statement on the true nature of their relationship. Representatives for both stars have remained quiet. The public is left to speculate about whether this cosy Italian holiday marks the start of a brand-new romance or a friendly reunion between these two international stars.
