This was made know after appearing in an intimate video in bed with a mystery woman.

Drogba, 42, met Diakate in the late 1990s in Paris and they married in 2011.

He has previously maintained a discreet private life as he tried to shield his loved ones from the limelight.

But he has been forced into making a statement confirming his relationship with Diakate was over after saucy images of him and an unknown woman set tongues wagging.

The photos and clips soon went viral on social media.

And they showed the bare-chested Blues idol in bed with a nearly-naked young woman.

In the film, which a representative claimed had been hacked, she playfully sinks her teeth into Drogba’s shoulder as he screams in pain.

Drogba wrote on Instagram: “I’m not in the habit of discussing my private life.

“But, because of speculation in the media today, I can confirm that sadly, after 20 years together, Lalla and I took the difficult decision to separate last year.

“We remain very close, and our main priorities have been to protect our children and our family’s private life.

“May God bless you.”