In recent months, the relationship between former footballer Jota Peleteiro and model Jessica Bueno has once again made headlines in the press. The conflict, simmering since their breakup, reignited this spring when it played out on television, followed by a period of public silence. Now, the athlete has decided to break his silence by appearing on the TV show ‘¡De viernes!’ to answer questions about his personal life. It’s the perfect opportunity to revisit their nine-year love story: from their unusual first meeting, to the birth of their two sons, and the reasons that ultimately led to the collapse of their family.
Jessica Bueno rose to fame in 2010 after competing in the Miss España pageant. A year later, while participating in ‘Supervivientes,’ she met Kiko Rivera, with whom she had a son, Fran. In 2013, after splitting from the DJ, the model was single again. That was when she met Jota Peleteiro, who was then an up-and-coming footballer. Their encounter took place on the social network then known as Twitter. They began liking and publicly messaging each other, which quickly turned into obvious flirting and drew media attention. Phrases like ‘I miss my favorite Sevillian’ or ‘Galicia is now among my favorite places. Specifically, Vigo,’ left little doubt about their blossoming feelings.
Their romance developed rapidly. Soon, the couple started living together, and Jota took on the role of stepfather to little Fran. The family had to move several times due to Peleteiro’s football career: they lived in England, then returned to Spain, settling in Bilbao. In 2015, the couple celebrated two weddings—first in Galicia, then in Marbella. In 2016 and 2021, they welcomed two sons together: José Ignacio (affectionately called Jotita) and Alejandro.
However, in November 2022, nearly ten years later, their love story came to an end. Initially, the couple announced that the decision to divorce was mutual, with Jessica stating they had separated “amicably.” “We will keep only good memories… Our priority remains the happiness and well-being of the children, and we want to maintain a good relationship,” the model said at the time.
Over time, the situation became more complicated, as the real reasons for the breakup surfaced. A few weeks before the official announcement, the news leaked to the press thanks to TV host Amor Romeira. She hinted at the appearance of another woman in the footballer’s life—Miriam Guruste. Later, Peleteiro himself admitted to being unfaithful.
In addition to infidelity, other issues also came to light. Jota revealed that he felt trapped in the relationship and had tried to leave multiple times because his feelings had faded, but each time he backed down, fearing the consequences. Jessica, in turn, stated that the collapse of their marriage was due to a lack of support, constant pressure, and alleged criticism from her husband throughout their life together.
For reference, Jonatan “Jota” Peleteiro Ramallo is a former Spanish professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder. Over his career, he played for clubs including Celta, Eibar, as well as the English teams Brentford, Birmingham City, and Aston Villa. After retiring from football in 2021, he successfully entered the business world. Peleteiro became the majority shareholder of the football club SD Compostela and founded several companies in technology and agriculture, significantly growing his fortune.
