Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen reveal ‘painful and difficult’ divorce after ‘growing apart’

NFL legend Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen have divorced.

They both announced the end of their marriage in statements on Instagram on Friday morning.

Brady, 45, said: “In recent days, my wife and I finalized our divorce from one another after 13 years of marriage. We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time we spent together.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback said the decision had come after “much consideration” and that their children would “continue to be the center of our world in every way”.

Brady said it was “painful and difficult, like it is for many people who go through the same thing every day around the world”.

Bundchen posted: “The decision to end a marriage is never easy but we have grown apart and while it is, of course, difficult to go through something like this, I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always.”

The pair married in 2009 and have two children, while Brady also has a 15-year-old son from a previous relationship.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, is still playing at the top level after returning to the game after a retirement that lasted just 40 days.

He originally quit after saying it would give him “time and energy on other things that require my attention”.

Meanwhile Bundchen, one of the top-earning models of the 2000s, gave up runway work in 2015. She now does a select number of campaigns each year while focusing on environmental activism and business ventures.

She recently spoke about her worries for her husband’s health after so many years in the physical world of American football.

“Obviously, I have my concerns. This is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” she told Elle magazine in September.

“I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for (them). He needs to follow his joy, too.”

The 42-year-old added: “I’ve done my part, which is (to) be there for (Tom).

“I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams,” she said.

“Seeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career, it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve done a good job on that.”

Brady left the Buccaneers for 11 days in August for unspecified personal reasons and is now going through the first three-game losing streak in his illustrious 20-year career.

If he decides to retire for good, he’s signed a 10-year deal worth a reported $375m with Fox Sports to be their lead analyst.