Football’s hottest new couple: Mats Hummels, 35, debuts new romance with Victoria’s Secret model on Ballon d’Or red carpet – hours after nightmare first game since summer transfer

Former Germany international Mats Hummels has gone public with his new girlfriend Nicola Cavanis as the couple attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.

Hummels, 35, and Cavanis, 25, were seen arriving together at the star studded event at the Theatre du Chatelet in the French capital.

The footballer wore a black tuxedo to the ceremony, while Cavanis opted for a floor-length white dress.

The couple had been seen arriving arm-in-arm and posed for pictures on the red carpet ahead of the annual event.

German newspaper Bild stated that the couple had presented themselves publicly for the first time, amid recent reports of their relationship.

The couple posed for photos on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony on Monday in Paris

Cavanis, 25, is a Munich based model who has worked for several well-known brands

Hummels was previously married to Cathy Fischer, who he married in June 2015, but they split in November 2022.

Reports of his relationship with Cavanis emerged earlier this year, with the model having been pictured as part of a travelling part of family members ahead of the Champions League final in London.

The final proved to be Hummel’s final match at Borussia Dortmund, which ended in a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

The veteran defender joined Serie A side Roma in the summer on a free transfer.

Hummels endured a nightmare debut for Roma on Sunday, scoring an own goal as his side suffered a 5-1 defeat against Fiorentina.

Cavanis, who is a decade younger than Hummels, has enjoyed success as a model for several brands.

She earned fame after becoming the face of a Nivea brand campaign in February 2021.

Cavanis previously revealed she had started modelling at the age of 15, before joining an agency two years later after leaving school.

Hummels endured a nightmare debut, scoring an own goal in Roma’s loss 5-1 to Fiorentina

Cavanis enjoyed her first big break when she starred in a campaign for Nivea back in 2021

Cavanis began modelling at  15 and joined an agency two years later after leaving school

The 25-year-old model boasts 1.9 million followers on Instagram and 500,000 on TikTok

As well as Nivea, Cavanis has represented brands including Puma, Victoria’s Secret, MCM, New Yorker and Tchibo.

Cavanis is represented by both Munich Models and Wilhelmina, while she boasts 1.9 million followers on Instagram and 500,000 on TikTok.

A TikTok video of Cavanis attempting a basketball shot went viral last year, with the clip having been viewed over 14 million times.

The Munich native is a supporter of Augsburg and helped to model the Bundesliga side’s new kit earlier this year, while she previously was pictured playing tennis to promote the Boss Open in 2023.

Cavanis, who also has her own YouTube channel, told The Forum that she wants to use her profile to promote fitness.  

‘In the future, I would like to focus more on fitness and pass on my knowledge of workouts and nutrition,’ she said.

‘I think it’s important that people are encouraged to exercise and I think it’s good that social networks encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle. In moderation, of course, because extremes are never good.’

Despite being trained as an insurance and finance clerk, Cavanis claimed she had wanted to become a midwife before her modelling career took off.

Cavanis has spoken of her desire to use her platform to promote fitness and nutrition

Cavanis has previously revealed she is not allowed to get tattoos as part of her work

She also claimed she has been barred from getting tattoos as part of her modelling work. 

‘I actually wanted to be a midwife, but I was too lazy. I went from high school to secondary school,’ Cavanis told Bild.

‘Then I applied too late. I love babies, once I’ve raised my children, I’ll try being a midwife again.

‘I have to coordinate with them whether I can go to the hairdresser. I can’t just go on vacation, I have to cancel so that they can plan the appointments. 

‘I’m also not allowed to just get tattoos.’